Toyota began its expansion of the Toyota Technical Center to expand North American research and development operations with a ceremony at the York Township, Mich., campus.

Toyota is investing $126 million in the project, which includes construction of two new buildings. The landscape will add a new prototype facility for vehicle development and a supplier center. This new facility will enable day-to-day collaboration between the purchasing group, engineering design team and supplier partners to better satisfy the needs of Toyota customers today and into the future.

The center's expansion also enlarges Toyota's powertrain development facility on its Ann Arbor Township campus. This element of the project will better position Toyota to develop engines and automatic transmissions for the North American designed and manufactured vehicles.

As part of the expansion, Toyota is relocating more than 300 team members to Michigan. The moves include direct procurement and supplier engineering development positions currently based in Erlanger, Ky., and vehicle development and powertrain functions that are now in California.

Construction will be completed in late 2016.