Toyota to build auto battery plant in North Carolina

Toyota Motor North America Dec. 6 announced plans to build a $1.29 billion automotive battery manufacturing plant near Liberty, North Carolina, that will come online in 2025.

"The future of mobility is electrification and the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite [near Liberty] is the ideal location to make that future a reality," 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."

The battery plant will initially have four production lines to produce batteries for a total of 800,000 vehicles annually, Toyota said. The facility will later be expanded to six lines that will prepare batteries for 1.2 million vehicles/year, the company added.

Toyota said it chose the location based on its access to highway infrastructure, rail access, proximity to airports and seaports, renewable energy availability and government partnership opportunities.