Toyota has announced plans to set up a strategic laboratory in Sorocaba, in the interior of São Paulo state, to advance flex-fuel, ethanol and biomethane technologies, expanding its investments in sustainable automotive engineering and energy innovation in Brazil, CPG reported.
The company confirmed the initiative during a meeting with automotive journalists, where Toyota do Brasil President Evandro Maggio said the project would strengthen Brazil’s position in renewable fuel research and automotive innovation, according to Auto Indústria.
The biofuels laboratory forms part of Toyota’s R$11.5 billion investment programme announced for Brazil in 2024, aimed at modernising industrial operations and developing new mobility technologies. The facility is expected to begin with a team of about 40 specialised engineers.
Company officials indicated that the project goes beyond a typical industrial expansion, with the centre designed to function as a hub for applied engineering, sustainability and technological development while combining local expertise with international collaboration.
The announcement also reflects a broader global shift in the automotive industry toward diversified energy solutions rather than relying solely on electrification. Brazil’s long-standing experience with ethanol and its expanding biomethane production are seen as factors enhancing the country’s growing importance in the global transition to cleaner transport technologies.
