Toyota has signed a $2 billion deal to build a wholly-owned electric vehicle plant in Shanghai, as the Japanese automaker strengthens its position in China’s growing EV market during heightened US-China trade tensions.
Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation has signed a $2 billion agreement to establish a fully-owned electric vehicle (EV) plant in Shanghai, state media reported on Tuesday. The announcement comes as trade tensions between the United States and China escalate, with tariffs impacting key industries, including automotive and metals.
Toyota reached the deal with the Shanghai municipal government, aiming to enhance its presence in the world’s largest automotive market. According to Beijing-based Xinhua News, the company will invest a total of 14.6 billion yuan (approximately $2 billion) in the new energy vehicle (NEV) project based in Shanghai’s Jinshan district.
The project will focus on the research, development, production, and sales of Lexus-branded EVs and electric vehicle batteries. It follows a similar move by Tesla, which established its Shanghai Gigafactory in the city.
Tatsuro Ueda, chief executive officer of the China Region and chairman of Toyota Motor (China) Investment, said the initiative would introduce advanced technologies, contributing to a leading carbon neutrality model with global influence.
Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin in June, with production expected to start in 2027. While Toyota did not confirm production capacity details on Tuesday, earlier estimates in February suggested an initial output of around 100,000 units per year. The project is expected to create roughly 1,000 new jobs during its early phase.
The announcement follows Honda Motor’s decision to relocate parts of its production to the United States, as Japanese companies adjust to avoid a 24% tariff imposed by the Trump administration. The tariff policy affects automotive, steel, and aluminum products, while negotiations between Tokyo and Washington continue after a 90-day tariff reprieve for all nations except China.
As the US has raised tariffs on Chinese imports to as high as 245%, Beijing has responded with tariffs reaching up to 125% on American goods.
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