JAMA Spotlight: Electrification

Investing in an Electrified Future

Japanese-brand automakers' investments in electrification contribute to U.S economic competitiveness in the broader, global transition to electrified vehicles.

Japanese-brand automakers are planning to leverage their experience in the fast-evolving electrified vehicle space to expand battery electric vehicle (BEV) production in the United States. Over a decade ago, Nissan established lithium-ion battery production in Tennessee to prepare for the U.S. production launch of the Leaf, the world’s first mass market BEV, in 2013, and is continuing preparations for the production of two, new BEVs in Mississippi by 2025. As the BEV market grows in the U.S., both Toyota and Honda have increased their focus on battery and BEV production investments. Toyota tripled its initial investment in the lithium battery manufacturing facility in North Carolina, which will produce batteries for conventional hybrids and BEVs, and is steadily moving forward to its expected opening in 2025 when BEV production is also scheduled to begin in the U.S. In addition to its partnership with GM and its joint venture for battery production with LG, Honda announced in 2022 that it will invest in retooling several of its existing auto and powertrain plants to establish a new ‘EV Hub’ in Ohio in order to prepare for BEV production in 2025.

Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC) will begin producing batteries in 2025 and is expected to produce enough battery packs for 1.2 million electrified vehicles per year. The $1.29 billion investment is expected to create 1,750 new American jobs. Toyota also recently announced a new $1 million in Randolph Country schools to help bolster their STEAM education programs.

Nissan has begun the process of upgrading their Canton, Mississippi plant with the latest in EV manufacturing technology to support production of two all-new, all-electric vehicles. The $500 million investment will preserve and upskill nearly 2,000 jobs, and production on the new vehicles is expected to begin in 2025.

Honda has broken ground on a $4 billion battery facility joint venture with LG Energy that will help establish a new "EV hub" in Ohio in order to prepare for BEV production in 2026.

Nissan has announced that they are participating in the Department of Energy’s Vehicle to Everything (V2X) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU will bring together cutting-edge resources from DOE, DOE national labs, state and local governments, utilities, and private entities to evaluate technical and economic feasibility as we integrate bidirectional charging into energy infrastructure.

In 2023, Honda installed a stationary fuel cell generator at its corporate campus in Torrance, California. The unit has a capacity of approximately 500kW and reuses the fuel cell systems of previously leased Honda Clarity fuel cell vehicles. The station will serve as a proof of concept for the future commercialization of a power generation unit for use as a zero-emission backup power source for facilities such as data centers.

Toyota is collaborating with Redwood Materials to create a sustainable, closed-loop battery ecosystem for its electrified powertrains. Initially, this collaboration will focus on the collection, testing and recycling of Toyota hybrid electric vehicle batteries. The companies will then look to expand into other areas such as battery health screening and data management, remanufacturing and battery material supply throughout North America.

Electrified Vehicles for Every Need

After introducing electrified vehicles to the mass market nearly twenty-five years ago through conventional hybrid technology, Japanese-brand automakers’ choices for consumers have expanded significantly. Now, U.S. consumers can consider a variety of electrified vehicle options including conventional hybrids, various plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and increasingly battery electric vehicles (BEV) and a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). By 2030, JAMA members are planning to bring over 100 different electrified models to market. Japanese-brand automakers are committed to a more electrified future and are working to give every consumer the electrified vehicle choice that best fits their lifestyle and needs.

The vehicles below are a testament to JAMA members’ dedication to reducing emissions, protecting the environment, and creating safe and fun vehicles for every lifestyle.

*BEV (battery electric vehicle), PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle), HEV (hybrid electric vehicle), FCEV (fuel-cell electric vehicle)