Toyota to build first European EV in the Czech Republic by 2028

Toyota Motor Corporation will begin producing electric vehicles in Europe for the first time in 2028, with its Czech factory in Kolín selected as the launch site, Nikkei reported Tuesday.

The plant, operated by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Czech Republic, will produce approximately 100,000 EVs annually. The company has not confirmed which model will be built, but Nikkei says it is likely to be an SUV, debuting in Europe as early as 2026.

“In Europe, where environmental regulations are tightening, electric vehicles account for about 15 percent of new car sales. Despite the current weak demand for electric vehicles, the company is looking to expand its production system with an eye on future widespread adoption,” Nikkei wrote.

The Kolín plant currently produces the Aygo X and Yaris models and is one of five Toyota vehicle assembly facilities in Europe. It was originally a joint venture with PSA Peugeot Citroën (now part of Stellantis). Czech executive Robert Kiml has headed the plant since 2024.

Toyota Europe President Yoshihiro Nakata told E15 last year that the company aimed to accelerate EV production on the continent. At the time, speculation circulated that the Kolín plant could also manufacture smaller electric models priced around CZK 400,000, with a range of up to 100 kilometers.

Toyota currently offers one battery-electric model in Europe, the bZ4X SUV, which is imported from Japan.