Dive Brief:

• Toyota Motor Corp. is investing $922 million to build a new advanced paint facility in Kentucky that the company says will enhance the quality of its vehicle finishes, according to a Dec. 12 press release.
• The plant will add 1 million square-feet of additional production capacity in Kentucky and will utilize a new, environmentally friendly paint process that will decrease carbon emissions by 30% and water usage by 1.5 million gallons per year, according to Toyota.
• The facility is slated to open in 2027 and will support the production of electric vehicles at the company’s existing Kentucky assembly plant once it is fully operational.

Dive Insight:

The plant will use advanced paint technologies to reduce production lead time. It will also improve process accuracy and offer more diverse color options for customers that will help “Toyota vehicles stand out,” according to the release.

“Not only will our customers get the dynamic and stylish exterior finishes they love, but Toyota’s commitment to advanced paint technologies goes beyond aesthetics,” Kerry Creech, president of Toyota Kentucky, said in a statement. “It encompasses efficiency, sustainability and quality, leading the industry in environmentally responsible manufacturing.”

The paint facility will also support Toyota’s plan to increase vehicle production flexibility in Kentucky to adapt to changing market conditions, if needed. 

In February, Toyota announced plans to invest $1.3 billion in its Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky plant to produce a new three-row electric SUV for the U.S. market starting in 2025. The upgrades planned by the automaker include an EV battery pack assembly line.

The new paint facility brings the automaker’s total investment in the state this year to over $2 billion. However, Toyota’s total investment in U.S. manufacturing stands at over $20 billion since 2020, which is intended to support the production of more electrified vehicles as the automaker works towards its goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050.