(The Center Square) – Japanese vehicle maker Toyota, for the first time, is producing electric vehicle batteries in North America in what used to be agricultural land of North Carolina.
The units made in the Liberty community of Randolph County at a $14 billion facility will go to plants in Alabama and Kentucky for hybrid electric vehicles. Wednesday marked the official first day of production, replete with ceremony that included U.S. Transportation Department Secretary Sean Duffy.
Toyota said it was adding a $10 billion investment for mobility efforts in the future, making total investment $60 billion since operations began in the United States almost 70 years ago.
Toyota, first to get a Transitional Job Development Investment Grant from the state Department of Commerce, got an initial agreement of reimbursement for $79.1 million spread over 20 years. The taxpayer subsidy grew to $315 million over 39 years when the company triggered the second phase, eclipsing the commitment of 3,875 jobs and $3 billion within 36 months of the original Dec. 6, 2021, announcement.
Toyota said the site’s 5,100 workers when at full capacity will have access on the campus for childcare, pharmacy, medical clinic and fitness center.
Ted Ogawa, president and CEO of Toyota Motor North America, told those gathered, “Today’s launch of Toyota’s first U.S. battery plant and additional U.S. investment up to $10 billion marks a pivotal moment in our company’s history. Toyota is a pioneer in electrified vehicles, and the company’s significant manufacturing investment in the U.S. and North Carolina further solidifies our commitment to team members, customers, dealers, communities and suppliers.”
Duffy said Toyota reflects confidence from around the world in America.
“Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, America is open for business,” he said. “Toyota’s move to expand production in North Carolina is the latest show of confidence in this administration’s efforts to reshore manufacturing, generate new, great paying jobs, and inject billions of dollars into the economy. We’re just getting started!”
North Carolina’s role as an electric vehicle industry player has been robust in the last five years, with more than $20 billion invested.
In manufacturing and assembly, there is VinFast in Moncure, Mullen Automotive in Mooresville, and Scout Motors in Charlotte. In battery and component manufacturing, in addition to Toyota in Liberty there’s Wolfspeed in Chatham County, Epsilon Advanced Materials in Brunswick County, Albemarle in Kings Mountain, Forge Nano in Morrisville, Green New Energy Materials in Lincoln County, Dai Nippon Printing in Linwood, and Fujihatsu and Toyotsu near the Toyota plant in Liberty.
In charging infrastructure, there’s Kempower in Durham, Atom Power in Huntersville, alpitronic Americas in Charlotte and Vontier in Raleigh. Supporting infrastructure includes Siemens Energy in Charlotte, and ABB and Hitachi Energy with research and development facilities related to the electrical grid.
In Liberty, Toyota is on an 1,850-acre mega site with 14 battery production lines that support hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The batteries assembled will be used in the Camry HEV, Corolla Cross HEV and RAV4 HEV. The company is planning a three-row battery electric vehicle, and its batteries will also be made at the plant.
