The first Toyota electric vehicle batteries manufactured in North America have begun rolling off the production line at the company’s facility in Liberty, North Carolina. The batteries will be used to power hybrid electric vehicles, which will be built at Toyota’s plants in Alabama and Kentucky. The North Carolina facility, which is Toyota’s first and only battery plant outside of Japan, has invested nearly $14 billion and created over 5,000 new jobs. The plant has the capacity to produce 30 GWh of batteries per year and will serve as Toyota’s hub for developing and creating lithium-ion batteries for its electric vehicles.
The production of batteries for fully electric vehicles is currently undergoing testing, and officials say it is part of a multipart strategy to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised Toyota’s commitment to producing electric vehicles, saying that it is a turning point for the region. Governor Josh Stein also attended the ceremony, saying that there is a good chance that cars powered by batteries made in North Carolina will be on the roads soon.
The facility is expected to continue to grow, with additional production lines scheduled to launch by 2030. Once complete, the site will not only be a place of work but also a vibrant community with amenities such as on-site childcare, a pharmacy, and a medical clinic. Toyota aims to produce up to 45,000 batteries for fully electric cars annually and 75,000 batteries for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company plans to increase employment from 2,000 to 5,000 by 2034.
During the ceremony, Toyota also announced a grant of $2.7 million to the Guilford County Schools and the Asheboro City School District as part of its Driving Possibilities initiative. The program aims to strengthen communities and prepare young people for careers in STEM fields. The grant is part of Toyota’s commitment to supporting education and community development in the regions where it operates. Overall, the start of battery production in North Carolina marks an important milestone for Toyota’s electric vehicle strategy and its commitment to investing in the local community.