Automotive
Toyota is preparing to tell a distinctly American side of its story with Built to Last: Toyota’s Mobility Journey, a new half-hour documentary that arrives as the country moves toward its 250th birthday and the auto industry finds itself in the middle of one of its most meaningful transformations. Premiering Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 7 a.m. ET and PT on Discovery Turbo, the program looks beyond the showroom and into the plants, communities, and people that have shaped Toyota’s nearly 70-year presence in the United States.
Hosted by Dallas-Fort Worth broadcaster Celena Rae and produced by Bader Media with funding from Toyota Motor North America, the documentary traces Toyota’s path from its early Toyopet days to its current role as one of the largest manufacturing players in America. It is a story that stretches across 11 U.S. manufacturing plants, roughly 1,500 dealers, and nearly 50,000 American team members, giving viewers a closer look at how Toyota became deeply embedded in the communities where its vehicles, engines, trucks, and now batteries are built.
A major focus of the special is Toyota’s manufacturing footprint, including the massive Georgetown, Kentucky facility that remains Toyota’s largest plant in the world. Spanning nine million square feet, the Kentucky operation is also marking 40 years of production, with the documentary highlighting 87 “Day One” team members from 1986 who are still part of the plant’s story today. That legacy is now being tied to Toyota’s electrified future through a new $800 million investment aimed at supporting the next chapter of vehicle production.
The program also heads to Liberty, North Carolina, where Toyota’s $14 billion battery manufacturing site is set to play a major role in the brand’s multi-pathway electrification strategy. Designed to produce 30 gigawatt-hours of battery power annually, the facility supports Toyota’s broader approach that includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles, and emerging technologies rather than betting on a single solution for every driver. That approach has become a defining part of Toyota’s identity as the industry moves through shifting consumer demand, infrastructure challenges, and changing expectations around efficiency and sustainability.
For viewers, Built to Last looks to be more than a corporate history lesson. It is a behind-the-scenes tour of Toyota’s American operations, from Plano, Texas, and San Antonio to Huntsville, Alabama, Buffalo, West Virginia, Princeton, Indiana, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Kentucky, and North Carolina. With an encore airing scheduled for July 11, 2026, along with on-demand viewing through Discovery Go, the documentary gives Toyota a timely platform to show how its past, present, and electrified future are connected by the people building its vehicles right here in America.
Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate enthusiast with over 15 years of experience immersed in the world of cars. Whether it’s exploring the latest advancements in automotive technology or keeping a close pulse on breaking industry news, Lloyd brings a sharp perspective and a deep appreciation for all things automotive. His writing blends technical insight with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions both informative and engaging for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or under the hood, Lloyd enjoys test driving the newest models and staying ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive landscape.
