Nathan Bomey

USA TODAY

Japanese automaker Toyota joined the parade of manufacturers seeking to highlight their U.S. investments in the President Trump age with an announcement Tuesday that it would expand its Princeton, Ind. factory.

Following criticism from Trump over its investments in Mexico, Toyota said Tuesday that it would add 400 jobs at the Indiana plant to bolster production capacity for the Highlander sport-utility vehicle.

Tuesday's announcement came a few hours after the president met with General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Ford CEO Mark Fields and Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne to discuss his plans to lure more automotive plants to the U.S.

Toyota spokesman Scott Vazin confirmed that the $600 million Indiana investment was already in the works before Trump's victory in November's election. It does not involve shifting any production from other plants to Indiana.

Trump attacks Toyota for expanding in Mexico to sell in U.S.

But the decision to highlight the announcement falls in line with the new normal in the automotive industry: emphasizing American manufacturing investments as Trump threatens a border tax for importing vehicles from Mexico to the U.S.

Others that have recently highlighted U.S. expansions include GM, Ford, Fiat Chrysler and Volkswagen.

The Indiana investment is part of a $10 billion, 5-year U.S. spending plan announced by Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda at the Detroit auto show earlier this month. Those investments include the company's new U.S. headquarters in Texas, autonomous vehicle technology and retooling, Toyota North America CEO Jim Lentz told USA TODAY in an interview at the auto show.

Toyota described Tuesday's announcement as part of its strategy to "build vehicles where they are sold," which typically minimizes shipping costs and avoids unfavorable currency rates.

Automakers vie to be seen as most 'Made in the USA'

Overall, about 49% of Toyota's U.S. sales come from vehicles made outside the U.S., including 4% from Mexico, according to Barclays analysts.

The Toyota investment will allow the company to make 40,000 additional Highlander vehicles annually starting in fall 2019.

With about 5,100 workers today, the Princeton plant also makes the Sequoia SUV and Sienna minivan.

Like its U.S. counterparts, Toyota has been the target of criticism by Trump for manufacturing vehicles in Mexico and selling them in the U.S.

"NO WAY!" Trump said Jan. 5 in a tweet about Toyota. "Build plant in U.S. or pay big border tax."

Trump said this week that he would begin renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Trump promotes trade agenda with car makers

Over the decades, Toyota has developed a massive footprint of plants in the U.S. It includes factories in Kentucky, Alabama, West Virginia, Texas and Indiana, from which it exports more than 160,000 vehicles annually to 40 countries.

But the company came under fire from Trump for plans to build a $1 billion factory in the state of Guanajuato in Central Mexico to make the Corolla sedan.

The new Mexico plant will employ about 2,000 workers and make 200,000 vehicles annually.

Earlier this month, Lentz praised Trump's goal of bolstering U.S. manufacturing but warned that a border tax would "reduce the size of the industry."

"It may have a negative impact on employment overall," he said.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.