Toyota to convert US plant in Indiana for electric cars
All Toyota has revealed about the new BEV model, which it will build in Indiana, is that it is a three-row SUV – probably with six or seven seats, depending on the layout. It is in line with the latest rumours that Toyota wants to convert its Highlander into an all-electric model. It is thus possible that the electric Toyota Highlander will be built in Indiana.
In February, Toyota announced investments totalling 1.3 billion dollars in its vehicle plant in the US state of Kentucky to produce electric cars and install a battery pack assembly line. Toyota will also build a large electric SUV in Kentucky. The seven-seater will be a completely new model. As Toyota omitted that part of the description about the SUV for India, it adds to our assumption that it will be the electric version of the Highlander.
What’s more, the combustion versions of the Toyota Highlander, Grand Highlander and Sienna series, as well as the Lexus TX model derived from the Grand Highlander, are built in Princeton. The Highlander, now in its fourth generation, is a 4.95 metre long SUV with in-line four-cylinder and V6 petrol engines – and as a hybrid version.
However, it remains a speculation until Toyota confirms it. What is certain is that the billion-dollar investment in Princeton will create up to 340 new jobs, presumably mainly in battery assembly. The cells for this will be produced at Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina, which cost about 14 billion dollars. It will start production in 2025 and manufacture battery cells for battery-electric models and plug-in hybrids.
“We take great pride in producing quality products while providing long-term, stable employment no matter the changes in our industry”, says Tim Hollander, president of Toyota Indiana. “Our team is committed to delivering this new product with the same quality and performance that Toyota customers expect.”
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