Toyota plans to ramp up production of hybrid vehicles in the United States to meet strong demand for the vehicle.
The automaker recently announced a new assembly line at its Georgetown, Kentucky plant, for the naturally aspirated 2.4-liter and 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engines used. used in hybrid powertrains for both the Toyota and Lexus brands.
Representing a $145 million investment, the line will be able to produce three different engines simultaneously, according to a Toyota press release, making the Kentucky plant Toyota’s only assembly plant in the United States. North America has this capability. Toyota says the plant supplies engines to six of its seven North American vehicle assembly plants.
Toyota Tacoma Limited 2024
The Georgetown complex is also scheduled to begin production hydrogen fuel cell module later this year. A report earlier this year said Toyota could also start Electric vehicle production in Kentucky in 2025. For now, however, hybrids are the focus.
Among vehicles using the redesigned 2.4-liter turbo-4 Toyota Tacoma hybrid 2024. Revealed this week, the i-Force Max hybrid variant of the midsize pickup is the most powerful variant, reflecting Toyota’s decision to position the hybrid powertrain as an alternative to the engine. greater, rather than overall fuel economy.
Toyota has become synonymous with hybrid cars thanks to the Prius and customer interest in them remains strong. Owners of Toyota hybrid models keep their vehicle over a long period of time, because of their proven longevity and reliability, a 2020 report shows.
Toyota engine assembly in Georgetown, Kentucky
Toyota has also expanded the use of hybrid powertrains across its product line. However, the Sienna minivan, Crown sedan and Venza crossover are all hybrids Sienna the only one of which was built in the US.
With Toyota’s last comprehensive update on how they see the US market transitioning to electrification, it still hits 85% of sales. It’s a car with an exhaust by the end of the decade—with 30% of the lineup up to then still without any form of electrification. So an engine assembly line as flexible as the one coming to Kentucky is in line with the automaker’s predictions.
