According to Nikkei, Japan's largest automaker - Toyota has informed suppliers about the delay in starting the production of its first three-row battery-powered sports vehicle (SUV) in Kentucky (USA) for several months.
Toyota spokesperson Scott Vazin said that the production of the car could be carried out from the beginning of 2026 instead of the end of 2025 as originally planned. Accordingly, Toyota plans to introduce 5-7 battery-powered EV models in the US in the next two years.
It is known that supply disruptions and management problems have caused the car company from the "land of cherry blossoms" to postpone the start of EV production in the US by six months, which will be around June 2026.
Toyota once set a goal of producing luxury electric SUVs under the Lexus brand in North America by 2030. However, that plan was canceled to shift to exporting completed cars from Japan to the US.
Previously, in February 2024, Toyota invested $1.3 billion in a factory in Kentucky to serve its electrification efforts.
