Toyota Motor North America staged an opening ceremony for its new EV battery plant in North Carolina, taking that occasion to reaffirm its commitment to investing in its U.S. manufacturing base by announcing a five-year, $10-billion commitment to “future mobility efforts.”
The scope of the $10-billion commitment was not specified, but presumably includes previously announced plans, such as the ongoing development of the EV battery complex in North Carolina; a multi-billion series projects to expand the Georgetown, Ken., plant; a $1.4-billion expansion at Princeton, Ind.
Toyota also has ongoing U.S. investments to add more drivetrain capacity for internal combustion engine programs.
The new plant in Liberty, N.C., is a $13.9-billion operation that will employ up to 5,100, and will have capacity to manufacture 30 GWh annually of lithium-ion batteries. By 2030 it will have 14 production lines for batteries to power hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Batteries assembled there will power the Toyota Camry HEV, Corolla Cross HEV, RAV4 HEV, and a future, all-electric three-row BEV.
Toyota’s commitment is notable inasmuch as the automaker had been criticized by analysts in the past for its more cautious plans for electrification, and its competitors’ more recent redirection toward more EV and internal combustion vehicle options.
"We know there is no single path to progress," Toyota Motor North America president and CEO Ted Ogawa said. "That's why we remain committed to our multi-pathway approach, offering fuel-efficient gas engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electronics and fuel cell electronics."
