Ford is notably set to invest $3.5 billion in a battery plant in Marshall, Mich., a venture the automaker hopes will help it compete with Chinese EV makers. Last month, Ford CEO Jim Farley said he sees China, not GM or Toyota, as its main rival in the EV sector.
The new Toyota battery lab will help the automaker keep pace with electrification in North America, Jordan Choby, group vice president of powertrain at Toyota North America’s R&D unit, said in the statement. Toyota said it invested more than $8 billion in U.S. manufacturing operations in recent years, primarily to support electrification. Toyota and its Lexus brand offer 22 electrified vehicle options in the U.S.
“By adding these critical evaluation capabilities around automotive batteries, our team is positioned to better serve the needs of our customers, including Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, the latter of which will soon be assembling the recently announced all-new, three-row, battery-electric SUV,” said Shinichi Yasui, executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America R&D, in the statement.
At the new laboratory, Toyota will incorporate locally produced battery parts and materials sourced from its other North American partner suppliers, the statement added.
Toyota said the lab also will evaluate EV chargers as well as connectivity with infrastructure and power sources.
