Almost a billion dollars to upgrade five factories
Toyota will invest $912 million in five US plants to respond to growing demand for hybrid vehicles, confirming its industrial strengthening strategy in North America.
The initiative is part of the broader $10 billion plan unveiled in recent weeks, and during President Trump’s visit to Tokyo, aimed at the US market over the next five years.
Specifically, the plants involved are located in Mississippi, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri. In particular, the hybrid version of the Corolla, a historic model from the Japanese manufacturer, will be produced for the first time at the Mississippi plant. The company – which is the world leader in terms of sales volumes – plans to gradually launch the new production lines starting from 2027, with the direct hiring of around 250 new employees, and the investment aims to enhance not only vehicle assembly, but also the ability to produce specific engines and components for hybrid technology. At the same time, the first non-Japanese plant dedicated to lithium ion batteries, intended for hybrids, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, was inaugurated last week in North Carolina. In a note, Toyota underlines that approximately half of the cars sold in the United States are already assembled on American soil, while 76% of the cars produced throughout North America – including Canada and Mexico – are destined for the US market.
