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Toyota site update: county told batteries and hybrid lines coming, hiring continues
Summary
Toyota representatives updated the Randolph County commissioners on plant build progress, hiring status and community safety planning for battery operations; staff said hybrid-electric lines begin shipping batteries in months and the plant has hired about 1,400 workers with roughly 1,500 in the queue.
Toyota representatives gave Randolph County commissioners an on-site construction and staffing update at the Feb. 3 meeting, including hiring totals, timeline notes and community emergency planning for battery-handling operations.
The company's communications presenter, Emily Holland, accompanied by senior staff Ryan Gideon (accounting/finance), Darius Weatherford (environmental/facilities) and April Mason (plant services general manager), showed a recently produced site video and described the plant's readiness. Holland said the facility includes production lines for hybrid-electric vehicles (lines 801 and 802) and that the plant will begin shipping batteries for those lines in a few months; the company expects to host an opening event for community leaders when parts of the site are operational.
On hiring, Holland said Toyota has hired about 1,400 team members to date, with roughly 1,500 additional candidates who have completed testing and are awaiting job assignment as equipment and work areas become available. The company said its lines are built to be flexible to respond to changing market demand.
Commissioners and staff questioned the company about safety planning for lithium-ion battery storage and handling after recent high-profile battery-storage fires elsewhere. Holland said Toyota is developing both internal crisis response plans and a community-focused response framework that will include outreach to surrounding residents and coordination with local volunteer and municipal fire departments, EMS and the state fire marshal. She said invitations for community safety briefings are planned for late spring (May/June timeframe), and that the company is working with first responders on mutual aid arrangements.
Commissioners also asked about secondary access and DOT interchange timing. Toyota staff said one interchange is essentially complete for access and estimated preliminary access functionality in early spring, with full interchange completion dependent on DOT timelines.
Staff noted on-site services planned for the campus that will support employees and families, including an on-site urgent care, an on-site optometrist and a Walmart-owned retail/pharmacy outlet on campus for basic items and prescriptions.
Ending
Toyota representatives said they intend to continue community engagement and invited the board and residents to on-site tours and upcoming safety briefings. County and company staff will continue coordinating on mutual-aid planning and final interchange work with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
