Tag Archives: Toyota

News

Toyota Doubles Down on U.S. Manufacturing With $10 Billion Boost and New Battery Plant

Leave a comment

Toyota’s making big moves in the American heartland—again. The automaker just announced an additional investment of up to $10 billion in the United States over the next five years, bringing its total stateside spend to nearly $60 billion since it set up shop here almost seven decades ago.

But the headline-grabber isn’t just the money—it’s what that money’s charging up. Toyota has officially flipped the switch on Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC), its first-ever in-house battery production facility outside Japan.

Located in Liberty, North Carolina, the new plant represents a $14 billion commitment and promises to create up to 5,100 new jobs, serving as a cornerstone of Toyota’s expanding EV and hybrid operations in North America. The facility, first announced in 2021, will supply batteries for both hybrid and fully electric vehicles across the company’s U.S. lineup.

“Today’s launch of Toyota’s first U.S. battery plant and additional U.S. investment up to $10 billion marks a pivotal moment in our company’s history,” said Tetsuo Ogawa, president and CEO of Toyota Motor North America. “Toyota is a pioneer in electrified vehicles, and this significant manufacturing investment in the U.S. and North Carolina further solidifies our commitment to team members, customers, dealers, communities, and suppliers.”

For Toyota, it’s not just about keeping up in the EV race—it’s about doing it the Toyota way. The company continues to push its “multi-pathway strategy”, betting on a diverse mix of hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fuel-cell vehicles, and battery EVs instead of a one-size-fits-all electric future. The new facility will give Toyota more control over its supply chain and production pace as it scales those options.

The move also underscores Toyota’s long-term presence in the U.S., where it employs around 50,000 people and has built more than 35 million vehicles across 11 manufacturing plants. TBMNC becomes the eleventh link in that manufacturing chain—a tangible sign of Toyota’s “best-company-in-town” philosophy, which blends local investment with community involvement.

As Toyota charts its course toward a more electrified lineup—without abandoning its hybrid bread and butter—the North Carolina plant represents a literal and symbolic charge forward. Whether that will be enough to keep Toyota ahead in a rapidly changing EV landscape remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: the automaker is all-in on building its electric future on American soil.

Source: Toyota

News

The Next-Gen Toyota GR Corolla Could Pack 400 HP — And a Four-Cylinder Heartbeat

Leave a comment

The Toyota GR Corolla has never been shy about its intentions. From the moment it hit the streets, the rally-bred hot hatch became a cult hero — a three-cylinder, turbocharged firecracker that punched way above its weight. With 300 horsepower from just 1.6 liters, all-wheel drive, and a six-speed manual, it was Toyota’s love letter to enthusiasts in an era of downsized engines and dwindling driver engagement. But the little three-pot’s reign might be nearing its end.

According to reports out of Japan, Toyota is preparing to up the ante with the next-generation GR Corolla — and the changes under the hood could be seismic. The new model is rumored to ditch the 1.6-liter three-cylinder for a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that could deliver around 400 horsepower. That’s right — a 100-hp jump and an extra cylinder to boot.

From Three to Four: The Evolution of GR Power

At the unveiling of the new Corolla concept in Japan, Toyota quietly slipped in a surprise: a freshly developed 2.0-liter turbo-four, internally dubbed G20E, reportedly capable of producing anywhere between 400 and 600 horsepower depending on tuning. This new powerplant isn’t just about brute force. Engineers describe it as having a simpler design, greater reliability, and a much larger headroom for tuning compared to the maxed-out three-cylinder that currently powers the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.

Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota’s technical director, hinted to MotorTrend that this engine could serve as the foundation for future Gazoo Racing models. While he stopped short of confirming it for the next GR Corolla, the implication is clear — Toyota is ready to move past the limits of its pint-sized powerhouse.

A “Little 2JZ” for the Modern Era

Enthusiasts have already given the G20E a nickname that carries serious weight: “Little 2JZ.” The comparison to Toyota’s legendary inline-six from the Supra isn’t made lightly. Both engines share a focus on durability and tuning potential, with Toyota engineers reportedly claiming that the new four-cylinder can handle up to 600 horsepower with a beefier turbo setup.

If those claims hold water, the GR Corolla could transform from an underdog into a segment dominator. Even at its rumored 400 horsepower output, it would comfortably outgun the Honda Civic Type R (315 hp) and Volkswagen Golf R (328 hp) — a statement of intent from Toyota’s performance skunkworks.

Gazoo Racing’s Hot Hatch Arms Race

The GR Corolla was already known for its razor-sharp handling, rally-derived all-wheel-drive system, and mechanical grip that made it feel like a tarmac-bound WRC car. Pair that chassis with a 400-horsepower turbo-four, and you’re looking at something that might redefine the limits of front-biased AWD hot hatches.

While Toyota hasn’t confirmed specs, a move to the G20E engine would likely come with upgrades to cooling, drivetrain strength, and aerodynamics — and perhaps even a dual-clutch transmission option for those who want speed over engagement. Still, given Gazoo Racing’s ethos, we expect the manual gearbox to live on.

A New Hot Hatch Benchmark in the Making?

If the rumors prove true, the next-generation Toyota GR Corolla could be less of an evolution and more of a revolution. A 400-horsepower turbo-four would not only secure its spot atop the hot hatch hierarchy but also reaffirm Toyota’s commitment to performance engineering at a time when most automakers are going electric or softening their edges.

The three-cylinder GR Corolla made us believe in compact combustion again. Its successor might make us fall in love all over.

Source: Toyota

NEW CARS

2026 Toyota Hilux Goes Electric

Leave a comment

Few badges carry the kind of global weight the Toyota Hilux does. For more than half a century, this unbreakable workhorse has earned its reputation on construction sites, farms, and overland trails around the world. From the Australian Outback to the African bush, the Hilux has become shorthand for durability. Now, Toyota is ready to give its toughest truck a 21st-century edge — by plugging it in.

At a global premiere in Bangkok, Toyota Motor Corporation unveiled the ninth-generation Hilux, headlined by an all-new battery electric vehicle (BEV) variant. The announcement wasn’t just about electrification, though. It was about philosophy — specifically, Toyota’s “multi-pathway approach” to achieving carbon neutrality.

A Hilux for Every Road, and Every Region

Toyota’s approach to going green isn’t one-size-fits-all. Rather than betting the farm on battery-electric vehicles, the automaker is hedging with a mix of BEVs, hybrid electrics, and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) — all designed to match the energy realities of different markets.

“The truth is simple,” said Simon Humphries, Toyota’s Chief Branding Officer, during the premiere. “No two regions are the same, and no customer is the same.”

The BEV Hilux will lead the charge in Asia starting in 2026, while a diesel-powered variant remains on the menu for markets like Japan, arriving mid-year. But Toyota isn’t stopping there — a hydrogen fuel-cell Hilux is on the way too, targeting Europe and Oceania from 2028 onward.

That’s right: one nameplate, three powertrains, and one goal — ensuring that nobody gets left behind on the road to carbon neutrality.

The Electric Hilux: Specs and Substance

Underneath the familiar ladder-frame toughness lies a new electric heart. The Hilux BEV prototype boasts a 59.2-kWh lithium-ion battery tucked neatly under the floor, contributing to a cruising range of 300 km (186 miles) or more. Dual high-output eAxles — one front, one rear — deliver 144 kW (193 hp) and instant torque to all four wheels.

It’s still very much a truck: 4WD, 5,320 mm long, 1,855 mm wide, 1,800 mm tall, and built on the kind of robust bones that made Hilux a legend. Toyota says the advanced control systems ensure off-road performance that lives up to the badge’s reputation — not just a zero-emission commuter, but a zero-emission workhorse.

Thailand: The Beating Heart of Hilux

The launch in Bangkok wasn’t accidental. Thailand isn’t just another market for Toyota — it’s the spiritual home of the Hilux. The country has been building the truck since the 1960s and today serves as a global production hub.

“Our partnership with Thailand is proof that global success comes from local strength,” Humphries said. Over 13 million vehicles have rolled off Toyota’s Thai production lines, and the Hilux remains the national favorite — so much so that many locals call it “Thailand’s national vehicle.”

The ties run deeper than business. Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda once led the IMV project from Thailand — the initiative that made the Hilux a truly global truck platform in 2004. That legacy continues with this new generation.

The Hilux Spirit Lives On

Despite the shift toward electrons and hydrogen, Toyota insists the Hilux’s soul remains intact. Humphries described the new generation as “strong, sturdy, and focused” — a reflection of the same dependable DNA that’s helped farmers, families, and explorers alike for decades.

The event even drew cultural parallels between the Hilux’s enduring spirit and sumo wrestling, with former Yokozuna Hakuho Sho joining the stage. Like sumo, the Hilux is about “strength, balance, and discipline,” said Hakuho — a fitting metaphor for a truck adapting to new rules without losing its core.

What It Means

The BEV Hilux isn’t chasing range records or luxury status. It’s a pragmatic, purpose-built EV for developing markets — a truck that recognizes that electrification doesn’t have to mean reinvention. It’s a bold move from an automaker known for caution, and a sign that Toyota’s multi-pathway philosophy may be more than marketing rhetoric.

As the 9th-generation Hilux rolls out, the message is clear: the road to carbon neutrality isn’t straight — it’s as diverse as the drivers who depend on it.

Or as Toyota might put it: the Hilux isn’t just going electric — it’s evolving to power the world, one region at a time.

Source: Toyota