Toyota to Assemble Three-Row Electric SUV in Kentucky

Toyota (NYSE:TM) said today it  will assemble an all-new, three-row battery-electric SUV at Toyota Kentucky starting in 2025. The company’s first U.S.-assembled BEV will be powered by batteries from Toyota North Carolina. The new battery plant, currently under construction, will receive an additional $2.1 billion investment to support the company’s drive toward carbon neutrality.

“Toyota Kentucky set the standard for Toyota vehicle manufacturing in the U.S. and now we’re leading the charge with BEVs,” said Susan Elkington, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky. “Our incredible team of Kentuckians is excited to take on this new challenge while delivering the same great quality and reliability that our customers expect.”

Toyota claims it currently offers 22 electrified vehicle options in the US at the Toyota and Lexus brands, the most among any automaker. By 2025, Toyota plans to have an electrified option available for every Toyota and Lexus model globally.  During the last two years, Toyota said it has invested more than $8 billion in its US manufacturing operations primarily to support its product electrification efforts.

This brings total investment in Toyota North Carolina to $5.9 billion. Thus far Toyota’s first US-assembled BEV is officially unnamed. Production at the Liberty plant is slated to begin in 2025 with six battery production lines, four for hybrid electric vehicles and two for BEVs.