Toyota has announced that its first in-house battery manufacturing plant for electrified vehicles (EV) outside Japan, located in North Carolina, US is set to begin production in April 2025.
The new Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC) represents an investment of nearly $14bn.
It will be equipped to supply batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
TBMNC plant, Toyota's 11th manufacturing site in the US, is expected to create 5,000 new jobs.
In its press statement, the company said: “The new battery plant is part of Toyota's "best-in-town" approach―investing and producing locally, contributing to the local community and offering products tailored to local needs through a multi-pathway strategy.”
The company said its total investment in the country stands $49bn and supports over 280,000 jobs across the industry.
“As a member of America's business community, Toyota will continue to contribute to the region through job creation and investment,” the company’s statement added.
TBMNC is led by president Sean Suggs, with equity shared between Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), holding 90%, and Toyota Tsusho, with 10%.
In a separate announcement, Toyota Motor announced that it plans to establish a new wholly-owned company in Jinshan District, Shanghai, China to develop and produce BEVs and batteries.
The new company will develop a BEV under the Lexus brand, with production starting in 2027. The initial capacity will be around 100,000 units per year.
Toyota will also sign a partnership agreement with the Shanghai municipal government to support China's goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.
This partnership will focus on areas such as hydrogen energy, automated driving, and battery recycling.
