Toyota Motor North America pledges nearly $50 million for a new electric vehicle battery lab, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to sustainable mobility and electrification in North America. 

What’s Happening 

Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA) plans to invest around $50 million in building a state-of-the-art laboratory at its North American R&D base in York Township, Michigan. The facility will primarily be used to assess batteries for electric vehicles in the North American market, starting operations in 2025. 

Why It Matters 

This announcement marks a strategic move in Toyota’s shift towards a more sustainable and electrified future. Shinichi Yasui, executive vice president of TMNA, Research and Development, believes that the new investment will fortify their existing R&D infrastructure, enhancing the company’s ability to meet North American customer requirements. The initiative will also support local manufacturing units, including Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky. 

Key Points 

Toyota’s new lab will work in conjunction with partner suppliers across North America, incorporating locally sourced battery components in line with the company’s objective of reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, the lab will evaluate Level 2 and Level 3 charging and connectivity to power sources and infrastructure. Plans also include upgrades to chassis dynamometers at both Toyota R&D campuses to facilitate full battery electric vehicle evaluations. 

The lab is not only aimed at supporting current battery production but will also pioneer future products by investigating new battery configurations. The team’s research could contribute significantly to Toyota’s development of new electrified vehicle architectures. 

Bottom Line 

Toyota’s new facility will be enrolled in DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program, attributing 100% of the R&D operations’ electricity use to renewable energy projects by 2026. With this move, Toyota reiterates its commitment to a sustainable future and echoes Michigan Governor Whitmer’s recent announcement of the ‘Make It In Michigan’ plan, aiming to bring supply chains home and lead the future of batteries and electric vehicles. 

This commitment to electrification isn’t new to Toyota; it has already put over 23 million hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell electric, and battery electric vehicles on the road worldwide. Toyota’s long-term strategy includes a planned investment of more than $70 billion in vehicle electrification globally by 2030. The new lab is a key stepping stone towards achieving this ambitious goal.