[Video/Jinshan district government]

Construction began on June 27 on a new facility in Shanghai's Jinshan district, which is set to produce batteries and electric vehicles for Toyota's premium Lexus brand. With this investment, Toyota becomes the second foreign automotive brand, after Tesla, to build a wholly owned manufacturing plant in China.

The facility covers an area of 1.13 million square meters and involves a total investment of over 14 billion yuan ($1.95 billion). It will integrate research and development, manufacturing, and sales of EVs and is scheduled for completion in August 2026. Operations are expected to begin in 2027, with an annual production capacity of 100,000 units.

In addition to EV research and production, the plant will also serve as a testing ground for a green, full-cycle industry chain. Key areas of focus include state battery development, hydrogen energy applications, and battery recycling technologies.

Through this project, Toyota aims to accelerate its shift toward electrification and intelligent mobility, with plans to roll out more EV models tailored for global markets.

Jinshan district is home to 159 enterprises across the automotive industry chain, covering everything from research and development to the manufacturing of vehicles and key components.

Sources: Jiefang Daily, thepaper.cn