Toyota Motor North America (Toyota) opened the Toyota Battery Center of North America in Saline, Michigan, on October 1, 2026. The 30,000-square-foot development and evaluation facility expands the company’s ability to work across the battery-development cycle, from raw material sourcing and customer applications to recycling.
The center will serve as a central hub for Toyota’s Michigan-based battery teams, working with the company’s North American manufacturing network. Its activities will include battery evaluation for Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina, and Toyota vehicle manufacturing plants across North America.
Engineers and technicians at the site will assess battery performance and develop technologies for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen and fully electric vehicles. Toyota said the expanded local capabilities will help its engineers identify and address field concerns closer to their source. The company also plans to develop longer-lasting batteries designed for conditions encountered by drivers in the United States.
Toyota will provide facility and research access in cooperation with the University of Michigan Electric Vehicle Center, allowing other research partners to use the center’s testing and evaluation capabilities. Toyota is a founding member of the Electric Vehicle Center, and the program is intended to support the development of battery engineers and technicians in Michigan.
The opening represents Toyota’s latest development in Michigan, where the company has operated for more than 50 years. Its North American research and development groups are centered in Ann Arbor and work on vehicle engineering and mobility concepts.
Source: prnewswire.com
