Toyota Begins Battery Production at New North Carolina Facility

Toyota has started battery production at its $13.9 billion North Carolina plant, creating over 5,000 jobs and marking a major step in U.S. vehicle electrification.

Toyota has taken a major step toward its electrified future with the launch of full-scale battery production at its new facility in Liberty, North Carolina. It is the company’s first battery plant outside Japan and its eleventh manufacturing site in the United States. The $13.9 billion investment will create more than 5,000 new jobs.

The facility plays a central role in Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy for vehicle electrification. At full capacity, it will produce up to 30 GWh of lithium-ion batteries annually, a goal the company plans to reach gradually by 2030. The plant operates 14 production lines dedicated to batteries for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric models.

Initially, the site will supply batteries for the Camry HEV, Corolla Cross HEV, and RAV4 HEV, as well as for Toyota’s first three-row all-electric SUV built in the United States. Hybrid modules from Liberty are already being shipped to Toyota Kentucky and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Alabama.

The project has received strong federal and state-level support. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy emphasized its significance for reshoring manufacturing and job creation, while North Carolina Governor Josh Stein called the launch a “historic milestone” for the state.

Toyota is also strengthening its domestic supply chain. Through its partnership with Redwood Materials, the company sources U.S.-made cathode and copper foil with high recycled content, improving localization and reducing carbon emissions.

Beyond its industrial impact, Toyota is investing in education and workforce development. Through the Driving Possibilities initiative, the company has awarded $2.7 million in new grants to schools in Guilford County and Asheboro City to enhance STEM programs, following a $2 million grant provided in 2024.

According to state officials, the Toyota project ranks among the largest industrial investments in North Carolina’s history. Once the facility reaches full capacity, its economic contribution is expected to rival some of the most transformative developments of the past decade.