For 10 years, Toyota has made the Lexus ES in Kentucky. However as Individuals transfer away from sedans, and as Toyota wants to provide extra EVs within the States to keep away from tariffs, the corporate is shifting ES manufacturing away from Kentucky in favor of two new electrical SUVs based mostly on a few of its most beloved nameplates
An nameless supply confirmed to Reuters that Toyota will make EVs based mostly on the RAV4 and Land Cruiser in Kentucky. In an announcement, Toyota itself didn’t say what these EVs could be based mostly on (or share nameplates with), however merely that it will construct two three-row EVs in Kentucky.
In the meantime, Toyota will develop Grand Highlander manufacturing to a different a part of its Indiana plant, because the gas-powered three-row continues to see large buyer demand. Toyota additionally builds the Lexus TX in Indiana, and with ES manufacturing shifting to Japan, the three-row would be the solely Lexus product made stateside.
The favored NX and RX crossovers are inbuilt Canada, whereas the remainder of the Lexus lineup comes from Japan.
Picture by: Lexus
Toyota took a extra cautious strategy to electrification than others, selecting as a substitute to deal with increasing hybrid choices, a technique that’s confirmed profitable. However now, it’s diving additional into the battery-EV world, with plans for seven fashions within the US by 2027. For 2026, it’ll have three: The CH-R, BZ, and BZ Woodland. (4 in the event you depend the Lexus RZ.)
The CH-R is the primary Toyota to reuse a gas-car nameplate for an EV, and subsequent Lexus ES is the primary of its legacy merchandise supplied with each fuel and electrical drivetrains. Going electrical with a RAV4 or Land Cruiser could be a a lot greater step, even when each fashions are already hybrid-only. The Land Cruiser is synonymous with the Toyota legend, whereas the RAV4 is without doubt one of the hottest automobiles on the planet.
We’ve reached out to Toyota for extra data, and we’ll replace once we hear again.
