Toyota to build 3 hybrid battery plants by 2011

To meet demand for hybrid vehicles, Toyota is planning not one, not two, but three hybrid battery factories, one of which will produce the next-generation lithium-ion battery packs. According to Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, Toyota will spend around 70 billion ¥ ($673.1 million) on the plants with a goal to produce an annual battery output of 1 million units by 2011.

The current nickel-metal hybrid factory in Shizuoka will be expanded to accommodate some of the output.

Toyota is aiming to increase its worldwide sales of hybrids to...
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djrickp - 5/23/2008 2:59:10 PM

+1 Boost

Jeez, might as well put the rest of the article in your post.

"Toyota is aiming to increase its worldwide sales of hybrids to 1 million units a year by early 2010. The industry together sold 429,000 hybrids in 2007."

hybridfarce - 5/23/2008 6:44:25 PM

+2 Boost

These new plants are ultimately good for the US. About the only good thing about the crappy Dollar’s exchange rate is that more manufacturing capability moves back domestically, reversing a trend that began in the 1980’s. I’d rather have an American buy an American-built Prius than a Japanese-built Prius. And domestically-made batteries pave the way for cheaper electric vehicles!

pedromarquinez - 5/24/2008 7:46:51 AM

+2 Boost

The plants are going to be built in Japan (Shizuoka Prefecture) sorry for the hope to see manufacturing coming back!