Toyota officials in central Kentucky last week formally unveiled the company’s first of many, many all-hybrid Camries at the Scott County assembly plant. That came as work progresses to produce thousands of electric vehicle batteries at two plants along Interstate 65. Production is expected to start next year.
Following an appearance in Lexington Monday, Governor Beshear said Toyota’s hybrid assembly doesn’t diminish the interest or emphasis in all-electric cars.
“As the charging stations are still being built out, as the credits really haven’t come into play, as the cost is still higher than it’s going to be in a couple years, hybrids give people the options of wanting to go electric, but giving it more time until that whole system is in place,” said Beshear.
The governor said it may take longer than thought two years ago. Beshear said the goal is for all automakers in Kentucky to be sustainable in the short and long term, adding that’s what keeps job in the Commonwealth. Toyota has also invested more than a billion dollars, going toward producing more EVs.
Governor Beshear is confident the field in the race for U.S. president is not likely to change substantially in the coming months. This assessment as much polling has indicated many Americans are not pleased with a choice between incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Beshear doesn’t see another viable ticket getting into the fray.
“So much time has been spent on will there be another candidate and at this point the answer is no…it’s an option between those two about who’s gonna be the next president of the United States,” said Beshear.
Beshear went on to say voters need to take a close look at Biden and Trump’s records and determine who they are going to support. Kentucky’s Primary ballot a week from now will include the presidential race, but the outcome of voting in the Commonwealth will not impact the political contest. That’s because previous state caucuses and Primaries have set Biden and Trump as the nominees for the Democrat and Republican parties.
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