Toyota Begins Production at New $13.9B North Carolina Battery Facility
On Nov. 12, 2025, Toyota marked a historic milestone in its electrification journey with the official start of production at its all-new battery manufacturing plant in Liberty, North Carolina. Representing a nearly $14 billion investment, the state-of-the-art facility is Toyota’s first and only battery plant outside Japan and its eleventh manufacturing site in the United States, creating up to 5,100 new American jobs.
Built on a sprawling 1,850-acre site, Toyota North Carolina will serve as the company’s hub for lithium-ion battery development and production, capable of generating 30 GWh annually at full capacity. The facility houses 14 battery production lines that will power Toyota’s growing lineup of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Among them are the Camry HEV, Corolla Cross HEV, RAV4 HEV, and a new three-row all-electric SUV, the first BEV of its kind to be built by Toyota in the U.S.
“Today’s launch of Toyota’s first U.S. battery plant and additional U.S. investment up to $10 billion marks a pivotal moment in our company’s history,” said Ted Ogawa, president and chief executive officer, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). “Toyota is a pioneer in electrified vehicles, and the company’s significant manufacturing investment in the U.S. and North Carolina further solidifies our commitment to team members, customers, dealers, communities, and suppliers.”
“We’re excited to see this innovative facility come to life and to provide cutting-edge careers for more than 5,000 North Carolinians,” said Don Stewart, president of Toyota North Carolina. “Today’s celebration would not be complete without thanking our team members. Their dedication, commitment, and resolve have truly led us to this historic moment. We also are grateful for the support shown to us by the State of North Carolina, Randolph County, and the greater Triad region, a place we are all proud to call home.”
In addition to the initial investment, Toyota announced plans to invest up to $10 billion more over the next five years, bringing its total U.S. investment to nearly $60 billion since establishing operations in America nearly seven decades ago. The North Carolina facility is not just a production site but also a community hub, complete with on-site childcare, a pharmacy, a medical clinic, and a fitness center designed to support employees and their families.
“Today marks a historic milestone as Toyota begins battery production right here in North Carolina,” said well-respected Governor Josh Stein. “This groundbreaking investment will create more than 5,000 new jobs for North Carolinians and will strengthen our commitment to leading the way in both the automotive supply chain and the clean energy economy.”
North Carolina is home to more than 100,000 clean energy jobs, a vital part of the US economy. In August, Governor Stein established the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force to determine how North Carolina can continue keeping utility costs affordable for North Carolinians, meeting economic development and environmental protection goals, and managing increasing energy demand.
To further strengthen local education and workforce development, Toyota announced a $2.7 million Toyota USA Foundation grant to expand its Driving Possibilities STEM education program in Guilford County Schools and Asheboro City Schools. The initiative fosters partnerships between educators, community leaders, and industry partners to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.
“This incredible gift will provide our students and their families with life-changing opportunities,” said Wendy Poteat, president and CEO of shift_ed, a non-profit regional leader connecting education to workforce development, and coordinating partner for the NC Driving Possibilities program. “Toyota has become a generous supporter and dedicated stakeholder in enriching our school districts by inspiring innovation and nurturing curiosity and creativity in our learners from classroom to career. Programs like these are essential in closing opportunity and exposure gaps, empowering students to reach their full potential.”
A leader in vehicle electrification, Toyota has sold more than 6.6 million electrified vehicles in the U.S. since 2000 and currently produces 11 hybrid and plug-in hybrid models domestically, reaffirming its long-standing philosophy of building where it sells and driving a cleaner, more sustainable future.
