COLUMBUS, Ind. (WLKI) - Governor Mike Braun joined executives from Toyota Material Handling North America on Wednesday to celebrate the opening of the company's new $100 million manufacturing facility in Columbus, a project expected to create more than 140 new jobs while expanding production of electric forklifts.
The new 295,000-square-foot factory marks one of Toyota Material Handling's largest manufacturing investments in North America since the company established its Columbus operations in 1990. The expansion brings the company's total manufacturing footprint in Columbus to nearly 1.9 million square feet.
Governor Braun praised the investment, saying it reflects Indiana's strength as a manufacturing leader.
"Indiana's manufacturing sector is stronger than ever before thanks to companies like Toyota Material Handling North America that continue to invest in innovation, in our communities and in our workforce," Braun said. "The company has invested more than $600 million in its Columbus campus since opening in 1990, and the impact TMHNA has had on this community and the region's economy cannot be overstated."
The new facility will manufacture electric forklifts for both Toyota Material Handling and The Raymond Corporation, positioning the company to meet increasing demand as the material handling industry transitions toward electric-powered equipment.
TMHNA President and CEO Brett Wood said electric forklifts now dominate the North American market.
"In 2023, 66% of all lift trucks sold in North America were electric powered, and currently the market is approximately 70% electric," Wood said. "The electric forklift demand is likely to reach 80% before 2035, and our new factory is poised to address this electrification trend."
Wood said the project represents the company's commitment to innovation and long-term growth while strengthening its Columbus campus as a hub for electric forklift manufacturing.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony included executives from Toyota Industries Corporation in Japan, Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon, members of Indiana's congressional delegation, and state and local leaders celebrating the continued partnership between Indiana and Japan.
The expansion builds on Toyota Material Handling's longstanding presence in Indiana. Since opening its Bartholomew County operations in 1990, the company has invested more than $600 million in its Columbus campus and has manufactured more than 900,000 forklifts in the state.
Toyota Material Handling currently employs more than 2,100 people in Columbus and more than 3,400 employees statewide, with additional operations in Carmel, East Chicago, Franklin, Lebanon, and North Vernon.
Company officials say the latest investment reinforces Indiana's role as a key manufacturing center while helping meet the growing demand for electric-powered industrial equipment across North America.