Toyota (TM, Financial) has announced a delay in its North American electric vehicle production until the first half of 2026, attributed to design adjustments and slowing EV sales. The Japanese automaker informed suppliers that the launch of its first all-electric model in the Kentucky plant, a three-row SUV, will be postponed by a few months.
Toyota spokesperson Scott Vazin indicated that production might commence in early 2026 rather than at the end of next year. Initially, Toyota anticipated starting production by late 2025, but recent changes suggest a shift to 2026.
Despite the delay, Toyota aims to introduce five to seven all-electric models in the U.S. over the next two years. Previously, sources mentioned that supply chain disruptions and governance issues pushed Toyota to delay U.S. electric vehicle production by about six months to around June 2026.
In addition, Toyota has revised its plan for producing luxury Lexus brand electric SUVs in North America by 2030, opting instead to ship complete vehicles from Japan to the U.S. Earlier this year, Toyota invested $1.3 billion in its Kentucky plant for electrification production.
