Toyota Unveils First Domestically Produced Electric Vehicle in the US

On February 10th, Toyota unveiled its first domestically produced electric vehicle (EV) in the United States. As a new model in the large SUV Highlander, it will go on sale in the second half of 2026. Batteries will also be produced domestically, increasing the proportion of locally sourced components. While demand for EVs has decreased due to the US government’s elimination of purchase subsidies, Toyota is focused on long-term growth in the EV market.

On the same day, Toyota also unveiled the new EV in California. As a 2027 model year Highlander, it will be available in the US and Canada from the second half of 2026 to early 2027. This is a large SUV with three rows of seats, boasting the largest size among Toyota’s globally sold EV passenger vehicles. Pricing will be announced at launch.

The vehicle will be equipped with the latest lithium-ion batteries, offering a maximum range of 320 miles (approximately 515 kilometers), the longest among EVs sold in North America. In addition to supporting the US standard charging interface “NACS,” it also utilizes Toyota’s proprietary software platform “Arene.”

Batteries will also be produced locally in the United States.

The Highlander is Toyota’s mainstay vehicle in North America, currently sold as a gasoline-powered and hybrid (HV) model. This is the first time the model will be sold as a fully electric vehicle. Existing HV and gasoline models will continue to be sold. It is unclear whether a product line beyond fully electric vehicles will be introduced after the 2027 model year.

Toyota will begin production at its assembly plant in Kentucky, in the southern United States, starting in the second half of 2026. Toyota currently sells two fully electric vehicles in the US, but both are imported from Japan. This is the first time a fully electric vehicle will be produced locally in the United States.

The batteries will be produced at Toyota’s own battery plant in North Carolina, in the southern United States, and will also be sourced from LG Chem’s US plant. This will increase local production in the United States, including for both complete vehicles and components.