Toyota Motor Corp. has increased production at its newly built lithium-ion battery facility in North Carolina. Valued at $14 billion, the site marks Toyota’s 11th manufacturing plant in the U.S. and its first dedicated battery factory outside Japan.
Spanning 1,850 acres, the advanced facility is capable of producing up to 30 gigawatt-hours of batteries annually at full capacity. It features 14 high-tech production lines designed to power Toyota’s expanding range of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles.
Batteries produced at Toyota North Carolina will power popular hybrid models such as the Camry HEV, Corolla Cross HEV, and RAV4 HEV, which are assembled at Toyota plants in Georgetown, Kentucky, and Greenbrier, Alabama. Additional production lines at the facility are expected to become operational by 2030.
“The launch of our first U.S. battery plant marks a defining milestone in Toyota’s history,” said Ted Ogawa, president and CEO of Toyota Motor North America. “As a pioneer in vehicle electrification, Toyota’s substantial investment in North Carolina and across the U.S. reinforces our long-term commitment to our employees, customers, dealers, communities, and suppliers.”
Don Stewart, president of Toyota North Carolina, added, “We’re thrilled to see this state-of-the-art facility come to life, creating over 5,000 high-tech career opportunities for North Carolinians. This achievement wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and hard work of our incredible team.”
At the dedication ceremony, Toyota also announced plans to invest up to $10 billion in the U.S. over the next five years to advance future mobility initiatives. Additionally, the company is contributing $2.7 million to the Driving Possibilities program in Guilford County Schools and the Asheboro City School District. This national STEM education initiative unites educators, nonprofits, and industry partners to strengthen local communities and prepare students for careers in advanced manufacturing.