Gov. Andy Beshear joined local officials and leaders from Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (TMMK) on Monday to celebrate 40 years of manufacturing in the state.
To mark the occasion, it was announced that Toyota is making an $800 million investment to prepare the plant for its second battery electric vehicle.
In addition to the investment, Toyota will donate a combined total of $4.4 million to Fayette and Scott County Schools and Eastern Kentucky University to help advance the next generation workforce and U.S. manufacturing.
“Kentucky changed for the better 40 years ago when Toyota chose to make Georgetown its New Kentucky Home, and I am proud to say that partnership remains strong with the company’s investment of $800 million at this site and the additional $4.4 million going toward our future workforce,” Beshear said. “Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky is Toyota’s largest vehicle manufacturing plant in the world, producing over 15 million vehicles since its doors opened and benefiting Kentuckians through good jobs and a strong economy. Today, we’re building on that success to ensure the future remains bright for this company and our commonwealth.”
The announcement is part of Toyota’s November 2025 commitment to invest up to $10 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the next five years. The $800 million investment at the Georgetown plant will further Toyota’s multipathway approach to electrification by preparing the plant for its second battery electric vehicle. The investment also allows the plant to increase production capacity of the Camry and RAV4.
Monday’s celebration and announcement come on the heels of a $1.3 billion investment made in February 2024, which last month was revealed to support the company’s all-new 2027 electric Highlander.
“At Toyota, manufacturing has always been about more than building vehicles, it’s about investing in people and our communities,” said Kerry Creech, president of Toyota Kentucky. “For 40 years, we’ve been proud to call Kentucky home. That pride comes from our incredible team members – and from the strong partnerships we’ve built across this great state. Together, they’re the reason we’ve succeeded and continue to grow.”
TMMK is Toyota’s largest production facility globally and currently employs approximately 10,000 team members.
(Photo: The Georgetown Toyota manufacturing plant, courtesy of the Georgetown Scott County Chamber of Commerce)
By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today
