Toyota Executive Takes Time to Mentor HPU Students
Sean Suggs, president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina and High Point University’s Technology Executive in Residence, is pictured center with electrical and computer engineering students in HPU’s Webb School of Engineering.
HIGH POINT, N.C., April 12, 2024 – Sean Suggs, president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina and High Point University’s Technology Executive in Residence, mentored students on campus and shared his knowledge from decades of experience in leadership and innovation.
As one of the industry leaders in HPU’s Access to Innovators program, Suggs shared career advice for young engineers and provided news about Toyota’s $14 billion investment in North Carolina to support electric battery vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. He is overseeing construction of Toyota’s battery facility in Liberty, which is scheduled to open in 2025. The plant will employ more than 5,000 North Carolinians and have six production lines delivering lithium-ion batteries for electric battery and hybrid electric vehicles.
“This investment we’re making in North Carolina is the most in the history of the state, and it’s also the most in our company’s history,” said Suggs. “The reason we’re excited about it is we believe that the industry is going to be really slow to adapt 100 percent.”
He showed physics students an example of hard-cased hybrid cells, which are stacked to form batteries. Toyota has developed technology to send pinpoint support to adjust and repair those cells from a distance, he said.
“This battery technology is changing by the month. When technology changes, we’re able to change with the technology,” said Suggs.
The main purpose for the new batteries is to reduce emissions of carbon, which Suggs described as the enemy. Challenges include a lack of lithium mining in North America. North Carolina has one of the nation’s largest lithium deposits and production is being developed, he said.
“The consumer is also telling us they’re not ready,” said Suggs. “We can produce all-electric vehicles all we want, but the customers are saying they’re not ready for it. Toyota’s approach is we want to have a multi-pathway approach. We want to get you a hybrid battery and also an all-electric battery if you want that.”
Toyota is running trials of this hybrid cell and crash testing it from all angles. The global company also sent 100 new cells to the United Nations for testing. Safety is the company’s top priority, Suggs said.
“My general takeaway is that Toyota is doing a good job with how they are starting with their electrical batteries and being the first ones to open up this giant location,” said Teagan Graham, a junior physics major from Bedford, New Hampshire.
“They’ve finally given up on hydrogen,” said Thomas Owens, a sophomore physics and tech theater major from Dallas, Texas. “It’s good to see that Toyota is truly investing in electric cars. It’s very much appreciated.”
While on campus, Suggs gave a lecture entitled “Battery Technology Today and Tomorrow: Embracing Diverse Skills for Success.” He met with engineering faculty to discuss preparing students for real-world careers. He provided career advice for electrical and computer engineering students. Suggs also recorded a podcast with freshman journalism major Jake Vesey, participated in a networking event and had lunch with students.
About Sean Suggs:
Suggs joined Toyota in 1998 as a team leader at its manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana, after proudly serving in the United States Army for eight years. During his tenure, he served in several roles and was named general manager of quality planning in 2008. In this role, Suggs oversaw professional development, vehicle quality and manufacturing quality for current and new model production.
Most recently, Suggs served as president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi in Blue Springs, responsible for production of the Corolla. He was subsequently promoted to group vice president and chief social innovation officer for Toyota Motor North America. He joined HPU’s Access to Innovators program in September 2023.
“Words cannot describe how excited I am to be a part of High Point University in any capacity because this is a great university,” said Suggs. “The leadership in Dr. Qubein all the way down to this professor in front of me. You guys have no idea how awesome it is to be at this university. Congratulations to you all for not only making the cut to get to this fine university but on being part of a great program.”