Sean Suggs

As president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina (TBMNC), Sean Suggs directs Toyota’s newest plant in North America, overseeing construction and start of production of the $1.29 billion investment.

Under his leadership, the plant will employ 1,750 North Carolinians and have four production lines capable of delivering enough lithium-ion batteries for 200,000 vehicles each once production begins in 2025. Suggs will also manage the expansion of the facility to at least six production lines with the capacity to produce batteries for up to 1.2 million vehicles a year.

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.

He rejoined Toyota in 2014, after serving as director of strategy, administration and human resources at Nissan’s North American headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, from 2008 to 2013. During his five years with Nissan, he also directed production quality at the company’s manufacturing plant in Canton, Mississippi.

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 (TMNA), where he oversaw efforts to uplift communities, improve access to opportunities, build diverse and inclusive workforce, and foster an inclusive culture to drive and grow the business.

Suggs serves on the board of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the National Urban League. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Auburn University and a Bachelor of Science from Oakland City University in Oakland City, Indiana.