Toyota To Delay U.S. EV Production To 2026 Amid Slowing Sales

Toyota Motor will postpone the start of electric vehicle production in North America to the first half of 2026 due to design adjustments and slowing EV sales, the Nikkei business daily reported, Roshan Thomas also reported for Reuters.

The Japanese automaker recently informed suppliers that production of its first battery EV model at its factory in Kentucky will be delayed by several months. I Photo: Toyota

The Japanese automaker recently informed suppliers that production of its first battery EV model at its factory in Kentucky—a three-row SUV—will be delayed by several months.

Production is now likely to begin in early 2026, rather than late 2025, Toyota spokesperson Scott Vazin said.

"We've always said it would be late 2025, and it could creep into 2026, and it does look like it's going to creep into 2026," Vazin stated.

He added that Toyota planned to introduce five to seven battery electric vehicle models in the U.S. over the next two years. Supply disruption and governance issues had previously led Toyota to delay U.S. EV production by six months, sources told David Shepardson and Daniel Leussink of Reuters.