Toyota to invest $2.1 billion more in North Carolina battery plant, build big SUV at factory in Kentucky

Kentucky is a great place to have a factory. Ohio would have been a good location. Wonder how they determine the locations of these factories. Resources?

Good news. A few years back, some of the poverty I saw traveling through the Appalachia region in the east of the state absolutely shocked me. After the coal mines closures, beautiful Kentucky needs all the employment opportunities it can get.

Toyota is unstoppable. Offering something to everyone -good balance approach.

“We truly believe that electrification is truly hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell, all-electric," he told reporters Wednesday. "And that’s what the customers are telling us as well. And we believe that there’s going to be a gradual approach to electrification going forward.”

I believe the same , not everybody can afford electric as their next car yet, price difference is too big for many at this time. Gradual approach is best, European manufacturers are realizing it too.

Kentucky is a great place to have a factory. Ohio would have been a good location. Wonder how they determine the locations of these factories. Resources?

Here is one version of the reason why?

https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/why-did-toyota-choose-north-carolina-and-the-greensboro-randolph-megasite-for-its-new-plant/83-97a619c9-9c0c-46fa-ba7b-eb68d8378661

Throwing the taxpayer's hard earned at Toyota didn't hurt.

https://www.thecentersquare.com/north_carolina/taxpayer-incentives-for-toyota-ev-battery-plant-could-triple-after-company-expands-its-investment/article_3ac4beac-296e-11ed-87ea-17da744708fd.html

Why do Japanese build cars in scab state,where their are not union,union workers usually are more productive, knowing they have contract

Why do Japanese build cars in scab state,where their are not union,union workers usually are more productive, knowing they have contract

You just answered your own questions.

Does Japan even have unions?

Smart play, if China locks down or something limits the supply chain this will counter act. Alot of countries saw the writing on the wall after covid supply chain issues.

Guess their hydrogen fuel initiatives will have to wait for the next generation of technology as it seems world's VERY comfortable with battery based!

With zero new sedans being made by US car manufacturers, Toyota could put their plant on the moon and the US would still buy their cars

Ford CEO says that Japan is not their future opponent but the Chinese automakers.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/25/ford-ceo-farley-says-chinese-automakers-like-byd-are-biggest-ev-rivals.html

Most of Toyota's investments in the US and worldwide are local partnerships, not fully-fledged operations like Tesla or BYD. Honda has to partner up with Koreans for the EV drive. Toyota and Honda are the laggards in the current EV Revolution, and they have missed significant milestones. Toyota's EVs will be rebadged Chinese cars since Toyota announced major partnership with BYD where the Japanese will be second in command.

Japan just recently conceded to lose the display industry against the Chinese and Koreans. I bet the auto industry will be next.

Guess their hydrogen fuel initiatives will have to wait for the next generation of technology as it seems world's VERY comfortable with battery based!

The maritime industry is testing hydrogen and ammonia powered internal combustion engines right now in Japan, Finland and elsewhere and will have these kinds of engines powering ships by the end of the decade. They are the technology leaders in this field. Everyone else will play catch up and apply their lessons to things like construction equipment, stationary generators, cars, trucks, buses and trains. Example, there are transit bus routes in Southern California that are simply too long for any battery electric bus made. Same for long haul trucking and railroads. Battery electric isn't going to move your freight train across the vast distances of Australia but a hydrogen powered engine or fuel cell probably will, and it will be a company like Wartsila or Mitsubishi that develops the required technology.

Most of Toyota's investments in the US and worldwide are local partnerships, 

Toyota owns its US plants outright. The US is not China that forces foreign firms to take a US partner intent on stealing its IP.