Toyota announced a series of changes and projects that will boost the Georgetown plant's transformation to meet shifting customer demand, reduce its carbon footprint and advance future capabilities. A new investment of $461 million will support the company's transformation plans, including three primary purposes: facility enhancements and operational upgrades, expansion of powertrain capabilities and a direct hire program.
Toyota will continue to build the Camry, Camry Hybrid and RAV4 Hybrid at this plant. To help create space for future products and to better align with U.S. market demand, production of the Lexus ES and Lexus ES Hybrid will shift from the facility and consolidate production back to Japan prior to the next major model change.
Susan Elkington, President of Toyota Kentucky (TMMK), said "As Toyota's most experienced assembly plant in the U.S. with a workforce of about 9,000, TMMK must transform physically and strategically to meet the changing needs of customers."
In 2006, Toyota debuted its first U.S. manufactured hybrid electric vehicle at the Kentucky operation. The most recent electrification milestone announced TMMK's powertrain plant as the site for assembling fuel cell modules for use in hydrogen-powered, heavy duty commercial trucks starting in 2023.
Toyota will continue to build the Camry, Camry Hybrid and RAV4 Hybrid at this plant.
TMMK's transformation began in 2017 with a $1.3 billion investment in its operations - equipping the facility with the Toyota New Global Architecture manufacturing platform and a new paint operation. Once this project is complete by 2025, TMMK's total investment will be over $8.5 billion.
