Toyota Motor Corp. has postponed the production of its first electric vehicle in the U.S. to 2026, with plans to launch up to seven fully electric models in the next two years.
The company initially intended to start manufacturing a three-row electric SUV at its Georgetown, Kentucky plant, but this has been delayed for several months.
Toyota remains committed to producing this unnamed model in Kentucky starting in 2026, alongside another unspecified electric SUV at a factory in Princeton, Indiana, which will begin production later that year.
The expansion of Toyota's electric vehicle lineup in the U.S. from two to seven models comes amid a slowdown in demand for battery-powered vehicles. This initiative is part of a broader goal to sell 1.5 million electric vehicles globally by 2026.
To support this target, Toyota is constructing a lithium-ion battery plant in North Carolina, expected to be operational by 2025. In February, the company announced a $1.3 billion investment to upgrade its Kentucky factory for electric vehicle production, followed by a $1.4 billion investment in its Indiana plant.
Reports indicate that Toyota has also canceled plans to produce a Lexus SUV in North America by 2030. Currently, the company offers two fully electric models in the U.S.: the five-seat Toyota bZ4X and the Lexus RZ 450e, both manufactured in Japan.
Despite a 3.7% decline in global sales due to production disruptions in Japan, the popularity of Toyota's hybrids continues to grow.