The investment is expected to create more than 250 new jobs across five of the automaker’s U.S. manufacturing plants.
PLANO, Texas—Six days after announcing that it began production at its new battery manufacturing plant in North Carolina, Toyota disclosed that it is expanding its U.S. manufacturing presence again to meet growing demand for hybrid vehicles.
Toyota said it will invest $912 million—creating 252 new jobs across five U.S. manufacturing plants—to increase hybrid capacity and bring hybrid-electric Corollas to its production lineup. The investment in Toyota’s plants in West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Missouri is part of the automaker’s recent commitment to invest up to $10 billion in the U.S. over the next five years. It further builds on Toyota’s “ongoing commitment to reinvesting profits in its U.S. operations,” the company said in a November release.
A Toyota team member at one of the company’s manufacturing plants for hybrid vehicles. (Photo courtesy Toyota Motor North America)
“Customers are embracing Toyota’s hybrid vehicles, and our U.S. manufacturing teams are gearing up to meet that growing demand,” said Kevin Voelkel, senior vice president, manufacturing operations, for Toyota Motor North America (TMNA), in the release. “Toyota’s philosophy is to build where we sell, and by adding more American jobs and investing across our U.S. footprint, we continue to stay true to that philosophy.”
Below is a state-by-state look at the new investments, totaling $912 million and 252 new jobs:
Toyota West Virginia: $453 million, 80 jobs
Toyota’s Buffalo, West Virginia plant will add 80 jobs to increase assembly of 4-cylinder hybrid-compatible engines, sixth-generation hybrid transaxles, and rear motor stators. The expansion, which will begin production in 2027, also includes new shift patterns for greater efficiency. Toyota West Virginia assembles more than one million engines, transmissions, and hybrid transaxles annually and represents a $3.3 billion investment, the company said.
Toyota Kentucky: $204.4 million, 82 jobs
Toyota’s largest plant globally, located in Georgetown, Kentucky, will add 82 jobs and install an all-new machining line for 4-cylinder hybrid-compatible engines, lining off in 2027. The powertrain facility can assemble up to 700,000 units annually. Toyota Kentucky employs nearly 10,000 team members and represents an investment exceeding $11 billion.
Toyota Mississippi: $125 million
Toyota’s Blue Springs, Mississippi plant will add the hybrid-electric Corolla, marking the first electrified Corollas assembled in the United States. The plant employs 2,400 and represents a $1.3 billion investment.
Toyota Tennessee: $71.4 million, 33 jobs
Toyota’s casting plant in Jackson, Tennessee will add 33 jobs to increase production of hybrid transaxle cases and housings, as well as engine blocks for hybrid vehicles. The investment includes three all-new production lines and will increase production capacity by nearly 500,000 units annually. Production on the new lines will start in 2027 and 2028. The plant represents a $497 million investment, according to the release.
Toyota Missouri: $57.1 million, 57 jobs
Toyota’s casting plant in Troy, Missouri will add 57 jobs and a new cylinder head production line for hybrid vehicles. The new line, scheduled to start production in 2027, will increase plant capacity by more than 200,000 cylinder-heads annually and bring the total investment to $629 million.
Toyota’s Commitment to the U.S.
The $912 million investment supports Toyota’s broader goal to invest up to $10 billion over five years in U.S. manufacturing. Currently, Toyota assembles about half of the vehicles it sells in the U.S., with North American manufacturing facilities assembling more than three-quarters (76 percent) of the vehicles it sells in the United States.
Toyota said its multi-pathway powertrain approach continues to drive steady growth in electrified vehicles, including hybrids, plug-ins, and all electric, which now account for nearly 50 percent of the company’s U.S. sales.
“We’re proud of our plant’s continued growth and honored to help lead Toyota’s transition into a mobility company,” said Alivia Luikart, team member, Toyota West Virginia, in the release. “Our future is bright, and it’s rewarding to know that our company has faith in our ability and trusts our team to drive Toyota forward.”
Beyond its manufacturing investments, Toyota is also actively preparing the workforce of the future. The Toyota USA Foundation recently launched Driving Possibilities, a $110 million initiative to support PreK-12 education and beyond. The long-term program aims to close educational gaps through innovative, hands-on STEM learning while addressing the essential needs of students and families.