Toyota to expand U.S. manufacturing to meet hybrid demand
Toyota is expanding its U.S. manufacturing presence to meet growing demand for hybrid vehicles.
As a part of Toyota’s recent commitment to invest up to $10 billion in the U.S. over the next five years, the company has announced a $912 million investment across five manufacturing plants. The goal is to increase hybrid capacity and bring hybrid-electric Corollas to the OEM’s production lineup, according to a press release.
The changes will also create 252 new jobs.
The investment will be made in Toyota’s West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Missouri plants.
“Customers are embracing Toyota’s hybrid vehicles, and our U.S. manufacturing teams are gearing up to meet that growing demand,” said Kevin Voelkel, Toyota’s manufacturing operations senior vice president, in the release.
“Toyota’s philosophy is to build where we sell, and by adding more American jobs and investing across our U.S. footprint, we continue to stay true to that philosophy.”
Toyota West Virginia
Toyota’s Buffalo, West Virginia, plant will add 80 jobs to increase assembly of four-cylinder hybrid-compatible engines, sixth-generation hybrid transaxles, and rear motor stators.
The $453 million expansion is slated to begin with 2027 production and includes new shift patterns to improve efficiency, the release says.
Toyota West Virginia assembles more than 1 million engines, transmissions, and hybrid transaxles annually.
Toyota Kentucky
Toyota’s largest plant globally, located in Georgetown, Kentucky, will add 82 jobs and install an all-new machining line for four-cylinder hybrid-compatible engines, lining off in 2027.
The powertrain facility assembles up to 700,000 units annually. Toyota Kentucky employs nearly 10,000 team members. The new investment will be $204.4 million.
Toyota Mississippi
Toyota’s Blue Springs, Mississippi, plant will add the hybrid-electric Corolla, marking the first electrified Corollas assembled in the U.S.
The plant employs 2,400 people. The new investment in the plant is $125 million.
Toyota Tennessee
Thirty-three jobs will be added to Toyota’s casting plant in Jackson, Tennessee, as part of a $71.4 million investment.
Toyota plans to increase production of hybrid transaxle cases and housings and engine blocks for hybrid vehicles at the plant. The investment includes three new production lines and will increase annual production capacity by nearly 500,000 units. Production on the new lines is scheduled to start in 2027 and 2028.
Toyota Missouri
Toyota’s $57.1 million investment in its casting plant in Troy, Missouri, will add 57 jobs and a new cylinder head production line for hybrid vehicles.
Production on the new line is slated to begin in 2027 and is expected to increase plant capacity by more than 200,000 cylinder heads annually.
The release adds that Toyota’s North American manufacturing facilities assemble 76% of the vehicles it sells in the U.S.
“Toyota’s multi-pathway powertrain approach continues to drive steady growth in electrified vehicles, including hybrids, plug-ins and all-electric, which now account for nearly 50% of the company’s U.S. sales,” the release says.
The Toyota USA Foundation also recently launched Driving Possibilities, its $110 million initiative to support PreK-12 education and beyond.
The long-term program aims to close educational gaps through innovative, hands-on STEM learning while addressing the essential needs of students and families.
Earlier this month, Toyota announced the start of production at its new battery plant in North Carolina, along with a commitment to an additional $10 billion U.S. investment, according to a company press release.
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