Toyota ramps up electrification

A three-row battery electric SUV will be assembled at Toyota Kentucky starting in 2025.

It will use batteries from Toyota North Carolina which begins battery production the same year, the new plant under construction getting an extra NZ$3.45 billion (US$2.1b) investment to bring its total investment there to NZ$9.7b (US$5.9b), allowing for an expanded role in support of electrification, Toyota says.

“We are committed to reducing carbon emissions as much as possible and as soon as possible,” says Toyota Motor North America president and chief executive Ted Ogawa.

“To achieve this goal, customers must have access to a portfolio of options that meet their needs now and in the future.

“It is exciting to see our largest US plant, Toyota Kentucky, and our newest plant, Toyota North Carolina, drive us into the future together with BEV (battery electric vehicle) and battery production for our expanding electrified line-up.”

Toyota Kentucky set the standard for Toyota vehicle manufacturing in the US and will now produce BEVs, says Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky president Susan Elkington.

“This is incredible news that furthers Kentucky as the centre of the electric vehicle sector,” says Kentucky governor Andy Beshear.

“Toyota has long been a vital part of the automotive industry in the commonwealth, and now the company is positioned to help lead us into the future.”

The facility will be Toyota’s hub for developing and producing lithium-ion batteries needed for its expanding portfolio of electrified vehicles.

Production at the Liberty plant is expected to begin in 2025 with six battery production lines – four for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and two for BEVs.

Toyota has put more than 23 million hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVS), fuel cell electric (FCEV) and BEVs on the road globally.

The company offers 22 electrified vehicle options in the US across the Toyota and Lexus brands, and by 2025 it plans to have an electrified option available for every Toyota and Lexus model globally.

During the last two years, Toyota has invested more than NZ$13.169b (US$8b) in its US manufacturing operations primarily to support its product electrification efforts.

Toyota and Lexus have nearly 1500 dealerships there, along with nine manufacturing plants, and employ more than 39,000 people in the US.