A substation dedicated to serving the power supply of Japanese carmaker Toyota's wholly-owned Lexus electric vehicle plant officially began operations in Shanghai on April 30, paving the way for the plant's mass production, according to State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Co.

Situated in Shanghai's Jinshan district, the project involves an investment of 14.6 billion yuan ($2.14 billion) and represents the world's first overseas new energy vehicle production base for Lexus, the luxury arm of Toyota. Concerning its significance in complementing the city's new energy vehicle industrial chain, it is also viewed as a milestone project for Shanghai automotive industry's transition and upgrade into the new energy sector, said State Grid Shanghai.

Officially breaking ground on June 27, 2025, the Lexus new energy project is slated for completion in August 2026 and scheduled for production in August 2027, yielding an initial annual capacity of 100,000 units, according to public information.

"From temporary power supply to formal electricity delivery, we are deeply impressed by the quick response and high-quality service of State Grid Shanghai. It truly represents the speed of China," said Li Longhe, a project leader of Lexus (Shanghai) New Energy Co Ltd.

"This has further strengthened our confidence in investing and developing in Shanghai," Li said.