Toyota has announced a second delay for its planned electric‐vehicle battery plant in Fukuoka, Japan. Earlier this year, the automaker acquired a 280,000-square-meter site intended for producing next-generation batteries that promise to double driving range and shorten charging times. An initial location agreement slated for April was postponed by several months due to slower-than-anticipated EV demand. A subsequent finalization expected in the fall will now be deferred as Toyota conducts a year-long review and adjusts its project timeline.
Fukuoka Governor Seitaro Hattori confirmed the postponement after meeting with Toyota President Koji Sato, emphasizing that the project remains active and has not been canceled. Toyota attributes the delay to current market conditions for electric vehicles, even as it continues to advance solid-state battery research internally.
At the recent Japan Mobility Show, Keiji Kaita, president of Toyota’s Carbon Neutral Advanced Engineering Development Center, reiterated that the company is “sticking to the schedule” for introducing its first solid-state battery–powered vehicle by 2028. Earlier this year, Toyota secured a partnership with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. to mass-produce all-solid-state battery cells and has also formed an alliance with Idemitsu Kosan.
The company last unveiled a prototype solid-state battery pack that it says can deliver up to 747 miles (1,200 kilometers) of range and achieve a full charge in approximately 10 minutes. While these specifications showcase the potential of emerging battery technology, Toyota has yet to finalize plans for industrial production and commercialization.
Industry data show that global EV sales continue to grow, with record monthly deliveries in September 2025 and a 26% increase through the first nine months of the year compared with 2024. Despite changes such as the expiration of a $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit, market momentum is expected to persist as major automakers accelerate their electrification strategies.
With several competitors advancing next-generation battery initiatives, Toyota’s revised timeline for its Fukuoka plant and solid-state vehicles will be closely monitored by industry observers.
Source: Electrek
