GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Toyota today made public plans to increase investment in battery electric vehicle production to $1.3 billion at the flagship Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (TMMK) facility in Georgetown, reinforcing the company’s commitment to high-quality vehicles and long-term job stability.
Toyota makes several hybrid vehicles in Georgetown currently.
The announcement builds on the company’s May 2023 announcement to invest $591 million in future projects and increase its job retention commitment with the state by 700 full-time employees to establish the company’s first U.S.-assembled battery electric vehicle (BEV) in Scott County.
“Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to vehicle electrification and further reinvesting in our U.S. operations,” said Kerry Creech, president of Toyota Kentucky. “Generations of our team members helped prepare for this opportunity, and we will continue leading the charge into the future by remaining true to who we are as a company and putting our people first for generations to come.”
This investment adds to the Georgetown operation’s history of groundbreaking technology and production. In 2006, TMMK was Toyota’s first plant in the United States to manufacture hybrid electric vehicles and later was selected to assemble fuel cell modules for use in hydrogen-powered, heavy-duty commercial trucks. The plant also plays a critical role in Toyota’s global electrification strategy, with an aggressive goal to offer electric or hybrid versions of every vehicle model by 2025.
TMMK is Toyota’s largest production facility globally and currently employs approximately 9,400 team members. Opened in 1988, more than 12 million vehicles have rolled off TMMK’s assembly lines, including the Camry, America’s best-selling sedan. Current production capacity is approximately 550,000 vehicles and 600,000 engines annually, with more than 350 suppliers nationwide – including over 100 in Kentucky.
Toyota’s announcement today increases to $1.3 billion investment at its flagship Kentucky facility for future electrification efforts, which includes assembling an all-new, three-row battery electric SUV for the U.S. market. It adds a battery pack assembly line to the facility, with batteries being supplied by Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina.
The project brings the plant’s total investment to nearly $10 billion and reinforces Toyota’s commitment to high-quality vehicles and long-term job stability.
TMMK has been a hub of the automaker’s North American operations since 1986. Its team members have assembled some of the most beloved nameplates in the Toyota lineup, including the Camry – America’s best-selling passenger car for 22 consecutive years.
Toyota is also committed to investing in its operational communities, primarily focusing on education and workforce development. Since making Kentucky home nearly four decades ago, more than $154 million in local donations continue to make sizeable impacts in the Bluegrass state. Our partnerships and support of 48 education and workforce training initiatives in 2023 alone has helped strengthen the foundation for our future.
“Every investment Toyota makes is proof of its commitment to employees,” said Chris Cohelia, group leader at Toyota Kentucky. “I joined this company 26 years ago as a production team member. Job stability, competitive pay and opportunities for growth are all reasons I love working here. It’s also exciting to be a part of the team building Toyota’s first battery electric vehicle in North America.”
Since 2021, the Japanese vehicle maker has announced new investments totaling $17 billion into its U.S. manufacturing operations to support electrification efforts. Increasing BEV assembly in North America advances Toyota’s portfolio approach to electrification and commitment to building where we sell.
