Core Insights - Toyota Motor has postponed its planned electric vehicle (EV) battery factory in Fukuoka prefecture for the second time due to softer EV demand, with the project now pushed back from an original 2028 start date [1][2] - The company is reviewing the project and may redirect some capacity at the site to vehicle or component production [2] - Toyota's global EV sales forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026 has been reduced to 277,000 units, which is 10% lower than its previous projection [3] Group 1: Project Delays and Adjustments - The planned EV battery factory in Fukuoka has been deferred as Toyota reassesses the project in light of declining EV demand [1] - The company acquired land worth approximately Y6 billion ($39 million) in an industrial park, with plans to meet construction obligations within three years [2] - A location agreement with the prefecture was intended for April but has been delayed until autumn due to the weakening demand for EVs [2] Group 2: Sales Forecast and Market Strategy - Toyota's forecast for global EV sales, including Lexus, has been adjusted to 277,000 units for the fiscal year ending March 2026, down from earlier estimates [3] - The automaker is considering revising its target of 1.5 million global EV sales by 2026 [3] - In response to stronger EV uptake in China, Toyota is increasing its development and sales efforts in that market, launching a lower-priced model in March [3] Group 3: Regional Performance and Industry Trends - Overall sales in China for Toyota declined to 860,000 vehicles between April and September last year but recovered to 910,000 in the same period of 2025 [4] - The company's EV strategy is being tailored by region, with a Lexus plant in Shanghai set to begin operations in 2027 [4] - Other automakers, such as Nissan and Honda, are also revisiting their battery investment plans amid slower EV sales [5]