Toyota opens massive North Carolina EV battery factory
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Production is underway at a Toyota battery plant in Liberty, North Carolina. Photo provided by Toyota.
Toyota's massive plant in the Greensboro suburb of Liberty is now assembling batteries for hybrids and electric vehicles. The first shipments went out this past summer.
Why it matters: The Japanese company says it is creating 5,100 jobs and investing $13.9 billion in the North Carolina facility.
- Workers at the facility develop and manufacture lithium-ion batteries, which are becoming increasingly important to the world's largest automaker.
State of play: Toyota now has 11 plants across the U.S., but this is the "first and only battery plant outside of Japan," a press release said.
- The company on Wednesday pledged an additional $10 billion in American investments over the next five years.
- The factory currently employs 2,500 workers.
Context: Earlier in 2025, Japan struck a deal with the Trump administration promising manufacturing investments in the U.S. in exchange for lower tariffs.
- Ted Ogawa, Toyota's chief executive in North America, says the plant reflects the automaker's priority to "build where we sell," a commitment he notes President Donald Trump praised on his recent trip to Japan.
Inside the room: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Gov. Josh Stein both attended a flashy event held at the plant Wednesday, seated in the front row on either side of U.S. Sen. Ted Budd.
- The ambassador from Japan, Shigeo Yamada, sat on Stein's other side.
What they're saying: Duffy joked he was relieved not to talk about aviation amid flight delays and cancellations caused by the government shutdown, and said, "when companies invest in America, that means great American jobs."
- Stein says the factory helps "build a state that is safer, stronger, cleaner and more resilient."
- Yamada says it will " energize the economy of North Carolina — as well as the entire United States — while securing very vital supply chains."
Zoom in: The site sprawls over 1,850 acres and runs 24/7. It will eventually accommodate 14 battery production lines for various vehicles.
- That includes Camry, Corolla and RAV4 models, plus an all-electric 3-row SUV that's not yet been released.
- Battery modules made in Liberty are shipped to assembly lines in Kentucky and Alabama, the company says. Factory workers say they're about 80% complete when they leave North Carolina.
Between the lines: Toyota no longer makes fully gas-powered Camrys, and its EV strategy has prioritized hybrids over all-electric models.
- "I think the American people want hybrids," Duffy added. "They want electric, but they also want the backup of a combustion engine."
- Don Stewart, who leads Toyota North Carolina, says the factory "symbolizes the future of the automobile industry."
Zoom out: For picking Liberty, Toyota is in line for around $664 million in incentives from the state and Randolph County, provided it meets hiring and investment goals.
- "History tells us when a company like Toyota plants their roots in a town like ours, that community is going to thrive," says Rebecca Sams, a factory worker from Liberty.
What's next: Even though production has begun, construction is expected to continue until 2030.
