Date: 24/06/2010

Motor drives for US electic/hybrid vehicles from Toshiba made in local plants

Toshiba will be expanding its manufacturing capacity at its plant in Houston, Texas for production of drive motors for hybrid electric cars and other such vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs).

This production will be Toshiba's first overseas manufacturing base for automotive propulsion motors, which are currently produced in Mie Prefecture, Japan. This facility will provide drive motors for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles for Ford Motor Company.

Toshiba will begin construction for the expanded capacity in January 2011 in Houston, Texas, on the site of Toshiba International Corporation. Production of the automotive motors would begin in 2012.

"Toshiba recognizes the importance of localizing production within North America to ensure long term growth and make a commitment to the North American market," said Shinichiro Akiba, President, Toshiba International Corporation, a Houston-based Toshiba Group company that manufactures and markets motors and industrial equipment, and the base for this expansion program.

"We welcome Toshiba's decision to locate this new production in the United States," said Sherif Marakby, Director, Electrification Programs and Engineering, Ford Motor Company. "This key technology will help build U.S. capacity and supply of components to further enable vehicle electrification in the North American market."

Toshiba estimates that the global market for motors for such vehicles, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles, will grow from 50 billion yen in fiscal year 2009 to 1 trillion yen in fiscal year 2020.