Significant Investment in Electric Forklift Production
Toyota Material Handling has chosen Columbus, Indiana-based Force Construction to build a new $100 million manufacturing facility at its Columbus campus. This expansion will add 295,000 square feet to the existing plant, significantly boosting the company’s production capabilities.
Commitment to Electrification and Sustainable Technologies
The new facility will focus on producing electric forklifts, reflecting the growing trend toward electrification in the material handling industry. “Electric forklifts make up 65% of the North American market and this trend toward electrification in the material handling industry will continue to grow,” said Brett Wood, president and CEO of Toyota Material Handling North America. He emphasized that this investment, one of the largest in the company’s history, underscores Toyota’s commitment to the North American market. Production at the new plant is expected to commence in June 2026.
Expanding Toyota’s Footprint in Columbus
This latest project marks Toyota’s 16th expansion at the Columbus site over 34 years, with total investments exceeding $400 million. Upon completion, Toyota’s footprint in Columbus will expand to nearly 1.8 million square feet. Tony Miller, senior vice president of engineering, operations, and strategic planning at Toyota Material Handling, expressed enthusiasm for the expansion, noting that the new factory will enable faster delivery of electric units to customers.
