Toyota: US Battery Plant Begins Production, Plans Additional $10 Billion Investment in US

Gaishi Automotive News, according to Reuters, reported that on November 12, Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation announced that its $13.9 billion battery factory in North Carolina has officially started production. The company is gradually expanding its hybrid powertrain offerings.Car productionAt the same time, it confirmed a plan to invest $10 billion in the manufacturing sector in the United States over the next five years.

Image source: Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Motor Corporation announced the plan for the factory in December 2021, aimed at producing its hybrid and electric vehicles.Electric vehicleThe factory produces batteries to power the hybrid versions of the Camry, Corolla Cross, and RAV4, as well as a yet-to-be-announced three-row electric vehicle model. Currently, the factory is manufacturing hybrid vehicle batteries for Toyota's plant in Kentucky, USA, and the Toyota-Mazda joint venture plant in Alabama, USA.

Ted Ogawa, President of Toyota Motor North America, stated, "In the next five years, we plan to invest an additional $10 billion in the United States to further enhance our manufacturing capabilities. By then, our total investment in the United States will exceed $60 billion."

This factory is Toyota's 11th plant in the United States, covering an area of 1,850 acres (approximately 749 hectares). When operating at full capacity, the plant will... With a capacity of up to 30 GWh, the facility is equipped with 14 battery production lines, which are used for manufacturing batteries for plug-in hybrid vehicles and pure electric vehicles. Ultimately, the factory will employ 5,000 employees.

Last month, U.S. President Trump stated in Japan that Toyota Motor plans to invest $10 billion in the United States and urged "everyone to buy Toyota cars." Previously, Trump had repeatedly criticized the import of cars from Japan and other countries and imposed high tariffs on imported cars.

In the process of transitioning to electric vehicles, Toyota is one of the slowest automakers, but the company has rapidly advanced the conversion of its best-selling models to hybrid versions.

Ted Ogawa stated at the event on November 12, "We understand that there is not just one path to sustainability. That is why we are always committed to a 'multi-path' strategy—offering efficient gasoline engine models, as well as hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, pure electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles."

Due to the Trump administration's cancellation of electric vehicle tax credits and the repeal of related punitive policies that incentivized electric vehicle sales, automakers like Volkswagen have also indicated they will increase the production of hybrid vehicles. 。

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed during the factory launch event that the Trump administration plans to propose loosening fuel economy standards soon, stating that the previous regulations were "too aggressive."

In January of this year, Sean Duffy requested the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to rescind the fuel economy standards for model years 2022 to 2031 established by the Biden administration. These standards were originally intended to significantly reduce fuel consumption for cars and trucks.