Toyota is expanding its battery development capabilities in North America with the opening of the new Toyota Battery Center of North America (TBC) in Saline, Michigan.
The 30,000-square-foot facility is designed to support battery development and evaluation across the entire battery lifecycle, from raw-material sourcing and technology development to vehicle applications and battery recycling.
The new center represents another major step in Toyota’s electrification strategy and strengthens the automaker’s ability to develop battery technologies closer to its North American manufacturing and vehicle operations.
“Toyota has long been at the forefront of battery development,” said Keita Moritsu, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Toyota Motor North America R&D. “This center is where that leadership expands to North America — and where we’re building its next chapter.”
New Toyota Battery Center Will Support EV and Hybrid Development
The Toyota Battery Center of North America will serve as a central hub for battery testing, evaluation and technology development.
Its work will be carried out in coordination with Toyota’s North American manufacturing network, including Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina, as well as Toyota vehicle production facilities throughout the region.
The facility is expected to help Toyota improve battery performance and accelerate the development of technologies designed for the different types of electrified vehicles in its lineup.
Toyota is pursuing a multi-pathway electrification strategy rather than relying exclusively on battery-electric vehicles. Engineers at the new Michigan center will therefore work on battery technologies supporting hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, while also contributing to Toyota’s broader sustainable mobility efforts.
The facility will also allow Toyota engineers and technicians to investigate real-world battery performance and address potential issues more quickly.
“For Toyota customers, this facility means Toyota engineers can detect and resolve field concerns faster and closer to the source,” said Jordan Choby, Group Vice President of Powertrain. “It also means we can develop longer-lasting batteries designed to perform in the conditions American drivers face every day.”
Michigan Becomes a Bigger Part of Toyota’s Battery Strategy
The opening of the battery center adds to Toyota’s more than 50-year presence in Michigan and further strengthens the state’s role in advanced automotive technology.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said the investment reinforces the state’s position as a major center for automotive manufacturing and next-generation vehicle technologies.
The new facility joins Toyota’s growing battery and vehicle manufacturing footprint in the United States at a time when automakers are investing heavily in domestic battery development and production.
Toyota has already committed significant resources to battery manufacturing in North Carolina, where its first North American battery plant is being developed to supply batteries for electrified vehicles.
The Michigan facility complements that manufacturing investment by focusing on development, testing and evaluation.
Toyota to Expand Battery Research With University of Michigan
Toyota also plans to make the facility available for research through its collaboration with the University of Michigan Electric Vehicle Center.
As a founding member of the center, Toyota says the partnership will provide research opportunities for additional organizations while helping develop the next generation of battery engineers and technicians.
Access to advanced battery testing and evaluation capabilities could also strengthen cooperation between Toyota, universities and other research partners working on electric vehicle technology.
The move highlights an increasingly important part of the EV industry: battery technology is becoming just as critical as vehicle design, with automakers seeking improvements in range, durability, charging performance, efficiency, cost and recycling.
A Key Step in Toyota’s Electrification Strategy
Toyota has historically taken a diversified approach to electrification, investing in hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and battery-electric vehicles.
The new Toyota Battery Center of North America gives the company additional resources to develop and validate battery technology for several of those vehicle categories in the United States.
As EV competition continues to intensify, having battery engineering and testing capabilities close to North American vehicle and battery production could help Toyota respond faster to changing customer requirements and market conditions.
The Saline facility is therefore more than another research center. It is becoming an important part of Toyota’s North American battery strategy, connecting research and development with manufacturing, vehicle applications and the eventual recycling of battery technology.
