Toyota Motor Co announced on Wednesday the company will build an all electric SUV in the U.S. The yet to be named SUV will begin production in 2025 with the automaker investing an additional $2.1 billion to make the lithium ion batteries needed state side as well. 

Assembly of Toyota’s first U.S build BEV SUV will be at its plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, the company’s largest manufacturing facility globally. Toyota currently employs about 9,500 people at the facility where it makes the Camry sedan, RAV 4 SUV, several engines and other parts. “Toyota Kentucky set the standard for Toyota vehicle manufacturing in the US and now we’re leading the charge with BEVs,” Susan Elkington, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, said. The battery plant, called Toyota North Carolina,  is currently under construction in Liberty, North Carolina. When it is completed in 2025, it will employ around 2,100 people.  

"It is exciting to see our largest U.S. plant, Toyota Kentucky, and our newest plant, Toyota North Carolina, drive us into the future together with BEV and battery production for our expanding electrified lineup," said Ted Ogawa, CEO of Toyota Motor North America. Toyota and Lexus plan to bring 30 EVs to markets globally and sell up to 3.5 million EVs by 2030. The automakers luxury line, Lexus, plans to be all-electric by 2035. The worlds largest automaker says it is gearing up for an electric future. Once considered a green vehicle pioneer, the automaker has sold a total of 20 million hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs around the world, and 5.4 million in the U.S. alone.

Toyota Motor North America sold its 7 millionth Certified Used Vehicle to 20-year-old Wayne Maver Jr. of Vincentown, N.J. He purchased the 2019 Toyota Camry from Holman Toyota.

Wayne Maver Jr. celebrates the purchase of the 7 millionth Toyota Certified Used Vehicle with Holman Toyota dealership personnel.

To celebrate the purchase, Toyota presented Maver Jr. with a check for the total purchase price of the Camry. The dealership and automaker also made a $5,000 donation in his name to the American Bladder Cancer Society, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of bladder cancer and advocating for research into a cure, treatment, early diagnosis and quality of life issues of survivors.

Maver was also presented with a $1,000 gas card from CarFax and given a four-year/55,000-mile maintenance plan.

“We were incredibly proud to be a part of this milestone for Toyota and continue the legacy of leadership in the Certified Pre-Owned industry, as well as have an opportunity to give back to our local community,” said Michael Schwab, general manager of Holman Toyota. “This is a testament to the value and reliability of Toyota vehicles and our commitment to delivering the very best for our customers.”

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling certain 2018-2021 Tundra vehicles. The headlight electrical circuits may power the high and low beams simultaneously, which could overheat the electrical connector.

The potential number of units affected is 158,489.

Dealers will modify the engine wire harness assembly and replace any damaged bulb, bulb connector, and/or headlight assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Oct. 4, 2021.

The NHTSA Campaign Number is 21V688000.