President Donald Trump pressured Japanese automakers to create new jobs in the United States after the White House threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on imported cars, citing national security concerns.
Toyota and other automakers are actively working to have any new tariffs on imported vehicles rejected.
Toyota announced an investment of $288 million in Alabama, which will increase annual engine production from 670,000 to 900,000 units by the end of 2021, and will also add new 4-cylinder and V6 engines. In addition, the company will allocate $238 million to its Kentucky plant to produce hybrid versions of the Toyota RAV4 and Lexus ES 300h. Additional investments will also go to plants in West Virginia, Missouri, and Tennessee.
Toyota noted that it will exceed its 2017 commitment to invest $10 billion over five years, increasing that amount to nearly $13 billion over the same period.
