FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 31, 2023) – Leaders at Toyota have committed to retain 700 full-time Kentucky jobs and establish the company’s first U.S.-assembled battery electric vehicle at its manufacturing facility in Georgetown. The project is part of a $591 million commitment for future projects at the Scott County facility. Governor Andy Beshear made the announcement today.
Toyota leadership confirmed plans to assemble an all-new, three-row SUV battery electric vehicle at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky as the operation leads the company’s vehicle carbon reduction efforts. Through its ongoing incentive agreement with the state, the company has committed to the retention of nearly 9,000 employees at the Georgetown operation, Toyota’s largest manufacturing facility in the world.
This project follows an October 2021 announcement of a $461 million investment to upgrade the Georgetown facility and prepare the site for future vehicle electrification. That announcement included the transition of 1,400 indirect employees to direct Toyota roles.
Today’s announcement adds to the Georgetown site’s history of groundbreaking technology and production. In 2006, the operation was Toyota’s first plant in the United States to manufacture hybrid electric vehicles and was later selected to assemble fuel cell modules for use in hydrogen-powered, heavy-duty commercial trucks. The plant also plays a critical role in Toyota’s global electrification strategy, with an aggressive goal to offer electric or hybrid versions of every vehicle model by 2025.