Toyota chooses North Carolina for $1.3B battery manufacturing plant

Toyota announced on Monday that it has chosen North Carolina as the location for its $1.3 billion automotive battery manufacturing plant.

The plant, which is expected to create 1,750 new jobs in the U.S., will be located at the Greensboro-Randolph industrial “megasite”. 

“The future of mobility is electrification and the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite is the ideal location to make that future a reality,” Toyota Motor North Carolina CEO Ted Ogawa said in a statement.

“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,” he added.

Toyota announced in October that it was planning to build a $1.3 billion battery plant, but did not disclose the location. The plant is part of a $3.4 billion investment in the U.S. through 2030 that includes funding for the company to produce its own automotive batteries.

The company on Monday said the plant will be online in 2025 and have four production lines. Each one, according to Toyota, will be able to deliver enough lithium-ion batteries for 200,000 vehicles a year. The company said it intends to increase to at least six production lines, leading to a total of 1.2 million vehicles per year.

Toyota said it was interested in examining renewable energy availability and support from local stakeholders — such as governments, utilities and partners — when determining where the new plant should be located.

It chose the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite because it “met and exceeded” a list of needs, according to a statement, including “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,” a “world-renowned education system” and “strong government partnership at both the state and local levels.”

Toyota said it will work to use 100 percent renewable energy at the facility by 2050 as part of its efforts to attain carbon neutrality for its vehicles and operations.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) welcomed the news of Toyota’s plans, writing in a statement “I’m glad that Toyota Battery Manufacturing has chosen to call North Carolina home.”

“This investment in our state is a testament to our world class workforce and growing economy. North Carolina is working hard every day toward a clean energy future and projects like this will help us get there,” he added.