Toyota Selects North Carolina for New Battery Plant

Toyota will use 100% renewable energy at this new plant to produce the batteries.

Toyota Motor North America said today that a new automotive battery manufacturing plant, Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina will be located in Greensboro-Randolph. By 2025 TBMNC will have four production lines, each capable of delivering enough lithium-ion batteries for 200,000 vehicles. The stated plan is to expand to at least six production lines for a combined total of up to 1.2 million vehicles per year.

The $1.29 billion investment made by Toyota and Toyota Tsusho is partially funded from a total investment of approximately $3.4 billion previously announced in October. The plant is expected to create 1,750 new American jobs.

“North Carolina offers the right conditions for this investment, including the infrastructure, high-quality education system, access to a diverse and skilled workforce, and a welcoming environment for doing business,” said Tetsuo Ogawa, CEO of Toyota Motor North America. (Milestones: Tetsuo Ogawa, to Succeed Jim Lentz as CEO Toyota Motor North America)

In deciding the location for the new plant, Toyota said it was pursuing renewable energy availability as well as “support (pr code for taxpayer funding or subsidies ) from local stakeholders, including governments, utilities, partners, and others. Candidates for the site were narrowed down based on these requirements and Greensboro-Randolph Megasite met and exceeded these needs.”

In Toyota’s view it had:

• An extensive and well-maintained highway system for overland logistics
• Four international airports and two seaports
• Onsite rail
• An outstanding, diverse workforce
• Renewable energy availability
• World-renowned education system
• Strong government partnership at both the state and local levels

Toyota said it “continues its efforts to reach carbon neutrality for its vehicles and operations by 2050, Toyota is committed to using 100% renewable energy at this new plant to produce the batteries.”