TOKYO: Toyota said it will invest US$383 million (RM1.6bil) in four of its plants in the US that build the heart of new Toyota and Lexus vehicles, advancing its commitment to vehicle electrification.
The new investment supports the production of four-cylinder engines, including options for hybrid electric vehicles, at its Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee plants.
The company will invest about US$222 million (RM944mil) in its Alabama plant, where it will create a new four-cylinder production line with the capacity to produce engines for both combustion and hybrid electric powertrains.
Additionally, the facility will expand its footprint by 114,000 square feet.
The Kentucky plant will receive US$16 million (RM68mil), and is expanding flexibility of the four-cylinder engine line announced last fall, which will better position the plant to meet customer demand.
The plant's powertrain facility can produce up to 600,000 units annually.
Toyota Missouri's US$109 million (RM464mil) investment provides new equipment to build four-cylinder engine heads on three production lines.
The plant has the capacity to build more than 3 million cylinder heads annually and represents a US$564 million (RM2.4bil) investment.
The Tennessee plant, meanwhile, will receive US$36 million (RM153mil) to update equipment to build new four-cylinder engine blocks.
The plant has the capacity to produce more than 2 million engine blocks annually.
