Toyota on Wednesday said it plans to invest up to $10 billion in its U.S. manufacturing operations over the next five years.

Earlier this year, the Japanese automaker also pledged to invest $14 billion in an electric vehicle battery plant in Liberty, North Carolina, which the company said will create up to 5,100 new jobs. Production at the plant, Toyota's only such facility outside of Japan, began on Wednesday, the company said.

"Today's launch of Toyota's first U.S. battery plant and additional U.S. investment up to $10 billion marks a pivotal moment in our company's history," Ted Ogawa, CEO of Toyota Motor North America, said in a statement. "Toyota is a pioneer in electrified vehicles, and the company's significant manufacturing investment in the U.S. and North Carolina further solidi

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