Toyota Delays EV Production in Kentucky

(Reuters) – Toyota Motor will postpone the production of electric vehicles at its Kentucky plant to the first half of 2026, citing design adjustments and slowing sales, according to the Nikkei business daily.

Toyota (NYSE: TM) recently informed suppliers that the start date has been delayed by several months. Earlier reports indicated that supply disruptions and governance issues had prompted the Japanese manufacturing giant to push the production start by six months to around June 2026.

Additionally, Toyota will abandon plans to manufacture new electric SUVs under the Lexus brand in North America by 2030. Instead, the company will export completed vehicles to the U.S. from Japan, as per the daily report.

In February, Toyota invested $1.3 billion in its Kentucky facility to support electrification efforts, including assembly of a new, three-row battery electric SUV for the U.S. market.