LIBERTY, NC — Toyota has begun hiring at its new automotive battery manufacturing plant in Randolph County. Staff is undergoing initial onboarding and new positions – more than 100 – are available at the location according to the Toyota Jobs site.
The selection of the Greensboro-Randolph “Megasite”, which is being called Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC), was announced in December of 2021. The initial announcement included a $1.29 billion investment and 1,750 expected jobs.
In late August 2022, the company more than doubled that investment, announcing an additional $2.5 billion. Then in May of this year, the company again increased investment in the plant with an additional $2.1 billion. Toyota’s investment in the site now stands at nearly $6 billion.
The increased expansion is intended to cover Toyota’s growing commitment to electrification. The facility will open with six battery production lines, four for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and two for battery electric vehicles (BEV).
While the initial increase in investment included 350 additional jobs, the second announcement did not include new positions. TBMNC is expected to hire a total of 2,100 people.
What hasn’t changed is the timeline. Since its original announcement, the company has maintained that the facility will begin operations in 2025. In May, the company announced its intent to begin building an all-new, three-row, battery-electric SUV, with a goal of beginning assembly at the Toyota Kentucky facility in 2025. This new model, which will be Toyota’s first BEV to be assembled in the US, will use batteries built at TBMNC. With hiring already begun in Liberty, the company seems focused on its timeline for the new model.
Company Commitments
Toyota’s work toward electric vehicles is being reflected in the building of the new facility. Toyota has announced a goal of carbon neutrality for its vehicles and operations by 2050. To that end, the TBMNC is expected to use 100% renewable energy at the site.
Toyota to invest $2.1B more in NC factory, upping total to $5.9B
Toyota is also showing its commitment to the region. In September of last year, the company announced donations totaling $1 million to promote workforce readiness and increase access to STEAM education. Communities in Schools of Randolph County (CiSRC) and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T) each received $500,000 grants to support these efforts.
“We have 2,100 jobs to fill in North Carolina, so better preparing our next generation workforce is critical,” said Sean Suggs, Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC) president in the press release. “Toyota is committed to providing resources, time, and knowledge to help build stronger communities in which we operate.”
