In 2021, Toyota announced that it would be establishing a manufacturing facility in Liberty, North Carolina, investing $1.29 billion in the factory to create two battery manufacturing lines. Now, it will invest another $8 billion in order to eventually have 10 battery lines up and running.
“Today’s announcement reinforces Toyota’s commitment to electrification and carbon reduction, bringing jobs and future economic growth to the region,” said Sean Suggs, president of Toyota North Carolina. “We are excited to see the continued energy and support of this innovative manufacturing facility.”
Toyota says that in addition to producing batteries for fully electric vehicles, this investment will allow it to supply plug-in hybrid vehicles, too. With sales of hybrids burning up the charts globally, and in America in particular, the decision may help the automaker keep up with demand.
Read: Toyota Wants To Accelerate EV Production As It Plays Catch Up To BYD And Tesla
The announcement may have also been precipitated by a change in Toyota’s leadership. When the plant was first announced, the company’s CEO was Akio Toyoda, and it was noted for its skepticism towards all-electric vehicles. Earlier this year, Toyoda was succeeded by Koji Sato, who has made EVs a bigger part of the Toyota puzzle.
Even under Sato, growth and investments can’t happen all at once. Toyota plans to increase production with a phased approach that will take several years. By 2030, the Japanese carmaker wants to reach an annual production of more than 30 GWh.
Toyota’s battery factory will require more than 5,000 employees to run, which is a stark increase from its initial plans. When it is done, the campus will be 7 million square feet large, the equivalent of 121 football fields. And that’s all welcome news for North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
“Through the last few years of building relationships, including my most recent trip to Tokyo and meeting with President Sato, our partnership with Toyota has become stronger than ever, culminating in this historic announcement,” said Governor Cooper. “North Carolina’s transition to a clean energy economy is bringing better paying jobs that will support our families and communities for decades to come.”
