LIBERTY, N.C. — Toyota said Wednesday that they will be expanding the Greensboro-Randolph megasite. It will be investing an additional $2.5 billion at the site.
The investment adds the capacity to support battery electric vehicle battery production and adds 350 jobs, bringing the total employment to about 2,100.
Toyota Manufacturing Vice President Don Stewart said the company anticipates a growing need for electric batteries. There will be six total lines, producing batteries for both hybrid and battery-electric vehicles.
"At Toyota, we've been making hybrids for a long time. And you continue to see more and more of those being brought into the system. And now we're beginning to shift toward battery electric. It's just time to make that shift. And this is just us, our entry point. We're just getting into the game, so to speak," Stewart said.
Stewart said there is a lot of work to get done and one of the most challenging parts will be hiring.
"It's somewhat like a freight train right? It's just so much in front of us and we know it's a big challenge and of course our company, we're up for the challenge," said Stewart. "It's just so exciting to be part of that first battery plant for Toyota."
Gov. Roy Cooper said he anticipated this announcement and said it's his goal to make sure people can fill the open positions.
"We know that this is going to provide great paying jobs to families, and we're going to continue to work so that they are going to get the workforce that they need, the education and the training that they need," Cooper said. "We want to celebrate all of these companies coming and bringing great paying jobs but it's my job to worry as well and what keeps me up at night is making sure we have enough well trained, qualified, diverse people to take those positions so we need to continue our investments in our education."
On site, concrete is already starting to go down. The site is scheduled to begin production in 2025. Toyota is already beginning to hire for the operations positions. The company is also looking for suppliers for things like lawn care, their onsite daycare, and more.
This brings Toyota's total for the Greensboro-Randolph megasite to $3.8 billion. The total global investment has grown to $5.6 billion to support their electrification efforts.
Toyota officials say this is a significant milestone for the company. The plant in North Carolina will serve a central role in Toyota's leadership toward electrifying the future and meet their goal of carbon neutrality in their vehicles and global operations by 2035.
The facility will create batteries for the new hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles.
Toyota announced in December of 2021 that it would build its first North American battery manufacturing plant for a new generation of vehicles in North Carolina.