Toyota Motor Corporation has expanded its North American manufacturing footprint with the official launch of production at its all-new battery plant in Liberty, North Carolina — a milestone marking both the company’s first battery facility outside Japan and its 11th manufacturing plant in the United States.
The nearly $14bn facility, known as Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC), is expected to create up to 5,100 new American jobs as it ramps up operations. Spanning 1,850 acres, the site will eventually produce 30 GWh of lithium-ion batteries annually, supplying Toyota’s growing range of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles.
Alongside the launch, Toyota confirmed an additional $10bn investment in U.S. operations over the next five years, bringing its cumulative investment in American manufacturing to nearly $60bn since establishing operations almost 70 years ago. Company executives described the development as a pivotal moment in Toyota’s electrification strategy, underscoring the company’s “multi-pathway” approach to mobility that blends hybrid, plug-in and full-battery technologies to meet diverse market needs.
The Liberty facility represents one of the most significant single manufacturing investments in North Carolina’s history, expected to catalyse economic growth across the Piedmont Triad region. State officials have highlighted the project’s role in shaping the area into a national hub for advanced automotive and clean-energy production. Governor Josh Stein called the launch a historic milestone, noting that Toyota’s presence will create thousands of new skilled jobs while bolstering the state’s leadership in the clean-energy economy.
The plant will serve as a key hub for developing and producing lithium-ion batteries for models including the Camry HEV, Corolla Cross HEV and RAV4 HEV, as well as a forthcoming three-row battery-electric SUV to be built in the U.S. Initial production lines are already shipping hybrid-electric modules to Toyota Kentucky and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Alabama, with full build-out planned by 2030.
Beyond its production capabilities, Toyota has invested in creating a modern workplace and community environment at the Liberty site. Planned amenities include on-site childcare, a pharmacy, a medical clinic and a fitness centre — part of the company’s wider commitment to being a “best-in-town” employer. Don Stewart, president of Toyota North Carolina, credited the plant’s progress to the dedication of its workforce and the collaboration of local and state partners, describing the facility as “a place we are all proud to call home.”
Toyota also announced new education and training initiatives to strengthen the regional talent pipeline. Through its Driving Possibilities program — a national STEM education partnership led by the Toyota USA Foundation — the company pledged an additional $2.7m grant to schools in Guilford County and Asheboro City. The program aims to expand access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education while connecting students to future manufacturing and mobility careers. Regional education leaders praised the initiative for its role in bridging opportunity gaps and fostering innovation among North Carolina’s next generation of workers.
The opening of Toyota’s North Carolina battery plant underscores the accelerating reshoring of advanced manufacturing investment across the United States. The facility positions the automaker to meet rising demand for electrified vehicles while deepening its integration into the U.S. supply chain and workforce development ecosystem.
For more articles like this, visit our Leadership channel
