Toyota Motor plans to start manufacturing two electric SUV models at its Kentucky facility in the U.S., while discontinuing the production of the Lexus luxury sedan at the same facility, a company spokesperson said Wednesday.
Toyota declared earlier this year that it intends to produce two completely new, three-row electric SUVs in the United States. Initially planned to manufacture the vehicles at its Princeton, Indiana plant, the automaker revealed last month that both models will instead be assembled at the Kentucky facility.
According to a source, the upcoming electric vehicles will be based on the RAV4 and Land Cruiser models. In February 2024, Toyota revealed a $1.3 billion investment at the Kentucky facility to prepare it for manufacturing the new three-row battery-powered SUVs.
The spokesperson stated that the sprawling 9-million-square-foot facility will continue to produce the Camry Hybrid and RAV4 Hybrid models. After the Lexus ES is phased out of U.S. production, Toyota’s plant in Princeton, which currently builds the full-size Lexus TX SUV will become the company’s sole U.S. site manufacturing vehicles for the Lexus brand.
The next-generation Lexus ES sedan, scheduled for release next year, will be produced in Japan and shipped to the United States, the source said, adding that the shift is unrelated to U.S. import tariffs.
A Nikkei report claimed Toyota is consolidating Lexus production to one location while increasing Grand Highlander output in Kentucky. Toyota responded that no official declaration has been made, but confirmed it is reviewing production plans.
Toyota plans to roll out seven new electric models in the U.S. by mid-2027, including EV versions of the RAV4 and Land Cruiser. After the refreshed bZ electric SUV arrives at dealerships, the automaker is set to launch the C-HR and bZ Woodland crossover SUVs in 2026.
UPCOMING | Lucid Confirms a $50K Midsize EV with Gravity X Design Cues
