During a groundbreaking ceremony last Wednesday, Toyota Material Handling announced plans to significantly expand its Columbus, Ind., headquarters, investing nearly $100M for a new 295,000-square-foot manufacturing facility dedicated to producing electric products. 

“We are excited about this significant strategic expansion to our Columbus campus,” said Tony Miller, senior vice president of engineering, operations & strategic planning. “Electric products are more popular than ever, and we are committed to doing whatever it takes to keep up with increased demand; this new factory will allow us to deliver those electric units to customers faster than we can today.”

The project will allow Toyota Material Handling to add 85 new jobs by the start of production in June 2026, the company said in a May 30 news release.

“Indiana has made it a strategic priority to cultivate the economy of the future, and we continue to see the impact of our work thanks to the partnership of great companies like Toyota,” said Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb, who attended the groundbreaking. 

“We’re so grateful to see Toyota continuing to invest heavily in southern Indiana,” Holcomb added. “Toyota’s been a cherished partner and career cultivator to the State for the last 35 years, and we look forward to strengthening our bond even more in the decades to come in and around the Columbus region.”

The company said the decision to invest an additional $100 million in a new factory underscores its dedication to “advancing sustainable technologies and meeting the evolving needs of its customers.” Toyota added that the facility would allow it to leverage cutting-edge manufacturing processes to produce more electrical products quickly while meeting its high-quality standard.

“Electric forklifts make up 65% of the North American market, and this trend towards electrification in the material handling industry will continue to grow,” said Brett Wood, president & CEO of Toyota Material Handling North America and senior executive officer for Toyota Industries Corporation. 

“We hope this announcement shows our industry-leading dealer network and our customers that we are a proactive company, not a reactive one,” he added. “We do not just plan for next week or next year – we’re preparing for the next decade, and this new initiative perfectly represents our commitment to that strategy.”

For more information, visit ToyotaForklift.com.