Toyota Motor, the world’s leading automaker, is reportedly planning to build a battery plant for electric vehicles (EVs) in the southwestern prefecture of Fukuoka and supply its batteries to a factory that manufactures luxury Lexus brand cars. This move is part of Toyota’s broader strategy to strengthen its EV battery production capacity and establish Kyushu as a key hub for battery-powered vehicles and an export base for Asia.
According to the Nikkei business daily, which reported the development, Toyota aims to make Kyushu a central part of its supply chain for EVs and leverage the region’s infrastructure and resources for battery production. While Toyota has not officially announced the plans, a company spokesperson confirmed that Toyota has been taking various initiatives to enhance its EV battery production capacity.
Currently, Toyota produces Lexus vehicles at the Miyata plant of its subsidiary Toyota Motor Kyushu. However, with the growing demand for EVs, the automaker has committed to introducing EVs with next-generation batteries globally from 2026, manufactured by its EV-focused unit BEV Factory. Toyota has set an ambitious target of selling 3.5 million EVs annually by 2030, with nearly half of them being produced by the BEV Factory unit. In 2023, Toyota sold 104,000 EVs.
The details regarding the investment amount and the construction timeline for the battery plant in Fukuoka have not been finalized yet. The facility is expected to be operated by Primearth EV Energy, another Toyota subsidiary specializing in producing batteries for hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and purely battery-powered vehicles.
This move by Toyota highlights the company’s commitment to the electrification of its vehicle lineup and reinforces its efforts to secure a reliable and efficient supply chain for EV batteries. By establishing a battery plant in Fukuoka, Toyota aims to enhance its manufacturing capabilities and meet the growing demand for EVs in the Asian market.
In conclusion, Toyota’s plans to build a battery plant in Fukuoka and supply its batteries to a Lexus factory align with its strategy to strengthen its EV battery production capacity and establish Kyushu as a central hub for battery-powered vehicles. With its ambitious sales targets for EVs and focus on next-generation battery technology, Toyota is positioning itself as a prominent player in the global electric vehicle market.
