Take a Tour of the Mysterious Lexus LC Plant With an Engineer
The Lexus LC is built in its own special section of the facility by only the finest Takumi craftspeople in a slow but deliberate process.
The Lexus LC is a bit of an unusual entry into today’s tiny grand touring segment – chiefly because, well, there just aren’t many cars like it on the planet at the moment. Here we have a luxurious, stylish, V8-powered machine that turns heads and gobbles up miles equally well, after all. However, one that that we don’t often hear about is the plant that the Lexus LC is built in, but as it turns out, there’s a very good reason for that – mainstream media hasn’t exactly been allowed to tool around that facility in Japan, which makes this recent video featuring engineer David Chao all the more interesting.
Chao was kind enough to take us along on this fascinating journey in a video from his YouTube channel AutomotivePress, giving us a step by step explanation of how the Lexus LC is built. Amazingly, just 18 units emerge from the plant every day, but as it turns out, there are several reasons why this is the case. For starters, it’s assembled by Takumi craftspeople by hand, all in a small area that was custom built precisely for that purpose.
The LC shares space with a handful of other models in several different areas such as paint, but has its own body shop and specialized assembly line. Along the way, there are some fascinating things to take in, such as the carbon fiber roof installation area, where there are heaters designed to warm up the adhesive that bonds them to the body. Everywhere Chao takes us, one thing becomes abundantly clear – this is a meticulous process, one that is completed by the best production workers around.
However, the use of computers and other high-tech equipment also aids in that process, with each station containing a tablet that shows the sequence of each car being built – one that’s designed to prevent steps from being skipped, or jobs from being completed incorrectly, such as improper torque being applied to a single bolt. Workers are also able to stop that process if they spot a problem as well, which is a truly unique feature of Toyota’s production process in general.
Of course, it’s perfectly fine for the plant to take its time building the Lexus LC, as it’s a low volume product. According to Chao, it takes around 30 minutes or so for a car to come off the first line, in fact, which is to be expected for a car like this. The slow process is evident as he continues to take us through the factory – engine installation is even completed by hand, which obviously takes a bit of time, though parts are delivered somewhat autonomously via a moving belt.
Everywhere we look, there are double and triple check systems in place to ensure that everything task involved in building the Lexus LC is completed perfectly, eliminating the potential for error. It’s a truly fascinating process – one that takes place in a pristine facility and completed by folks that clearly take pride in their work. And truthfully, that’s precisely what earned Toyota and Lexus a stellar reputation for quality in the first place.
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