Hybrid transaxle and engine capacity boosted

Toyota announced an additional $73 million dollar investment at its Buffalo plant in Putnam County on Friday, February 11.

This investment comes on the heels of the $240 million investment announced in November and will increase hybrid transaxle production capacity to 600,000 units per year. With this funding, TMMWV will also begin assembling an estimated 120,000 rear motor stators per year, a key component in electric motors. Currently, a team of more than 2,000 build approximately one million engines and transmissions annually for many of Toyota’s North American-assembled vehicles. Toyota has invested more than $2 billion in its Buffalo plant.

Toyota has committed to offering an electrified option across its entire lineup of both Toyota and Lexus vehicles by 2025. Advancing the production of electrified vehicles and their components, including hybrid transaxles, plays an important part in helping Toyota achieve its goals for carbon neutrality.

Hybrid electric vehicle systems combine two separate sources of propulsion or motive power, such as an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, to take advantage of their respective benefits while also compensating for their respective limitations. While hybrid systems are more complex than a conventional vehicle and add vehicle mass due to the addition of components, the same system allows the vehicle to be more energy efficient as the hybrid transaxle can effectively transfer power seamlessly between the engine, electric motor and wheels in any number of combinations.

Senator Joe Manchin had the following comment.

”Toyota Manufacturing West Virginia has been a strong partner for our state for 25 years. This announcement of a new $73 million investment brings their total investment in the Buffalo plant to $533 million in the last 12 months and is yet another example of their commitment to growing their business in the Mountain State,” Manchin said. “I’m thrilled West Virginians will continue to play a role in the future of Toyota’s manufacturing in the United States, and I look forward to working with Toyota to continue to grow their business in our state.”

Senator Shelley Moore Capito praised Toyota as well. “West Virginia has a long and productive relationship with Toyota,” Senator Capito said. “This announcement shows the company’s continued commitment to investing in our state and our workers. Not only is this investment great news for West Virginia and the hardworking individuals at the Buffalo facility, but it will also help advance the company’s production and fuel our economy. In the meantime, I am committed to doing everything I can to make sure this success continues. The Democrats’ Build Back Better Act has a discriminatory provision that would prioritize some American workers over others, which is why I made my intentions known to put forward an amendment that would eliminate this unfair special interest subsidy should the Democrats’ move forward with their reckless tax-and-spend bill. It’s critical that we create an environment that allows our hardworking West Virginians to compete on a level playing field, and I am committed to doing that so we can celebrate more investments like this in the future.”

Toyota has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 39,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 32 million cars and trucks at our its nine manufacturing plants. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, a quarter of the company’s 2021 U.S. sales were electrified.

To help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual education hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive experience and chance to virtually visit many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities. The hub also includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, virtual field trips and more.