Toyota has started production at its new battery manufacturing plant in Liberty, North Carolina, the company’s first and only battery facility outside Japan. The site spans 1,850 acres and will reach a capacity of 30-GWh annually once fully operational.
The plant will supply lithium-ion batteries for Toyota’s expanding range of electrified vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric models.
Batteries assembled at the site will power vehicles, such as the Camry HEV, Corolla Cross HEV, RAV4 HEV, and an upcoming three-row battery-electric SUV to be built in the US.
Toyota North Carolina will house 14 battery production lines and serve as the company’s hub for lithium-ion battery development in North America. Additional production lines are planned through 2030.
Toyota has announced plans to invest up to $10 billion over the next five years to support its North American electrification strategy. The Liberty facility represents part of that effort to localize battery production and strengthen the American EV supply chain.
The company has also partnered with regional schools and organizations to expand STEM education through its Driving Possibilities program, which recently received an additional $2.7 million grant from the Toyota USA Foundation to support workforce development in North Carolina.
Since 2000, Toyota has sold more than 6.6 million hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fuel-cell, and battery-electric vehicles in the U.S., reflecting its ongoing shift toward lower-emission mobility.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News