Toyota Celebrates the Start of New Corolla Vehicle Production at Toyota Manufacturing UK

• Official start of production of the new Toyota Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports wagon at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s (TMUK) Burnaston factory in Derbyshire
• First Toyota model in Europe to offer a choice of two self-charging hybrid electric powertrains
• New Corolla models to be launched commercially in Europe from February 2019

The official start of production of the all-new Toyota Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports wagon was marked today by a ceremony at the Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) car plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire.

The event was attended by Dr Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, Mr Hiroki Nakajima, Mid-size Vehicle Company, executive vice president and concurrent chief engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, The Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, the UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and His Excellency Mr Koji Tsuruoka, Japanese Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

TMUK is the exclusive European production centre for these new models, which will be strong contenders in the highly competitive C-segment compact hatchback and wagon market.

Dr van Zyl, said: “TMUK was our first major manufacturing enterprise in Europe and we have invested more than £2.75 billion in its operations since the start of production in 1992. As part of our strategy to secure the competitiveness of our UK operations, we took the decision in 2017 to upgrade our Burnaston plant to manufacture cars based on the new TNGA platform.

“The highly qualified workforce at TMUK has a fine record of delivering superior quality products.  Our continued investments, combined with the dedication of our members, will ensure that we can deliver ever better cars to our customers. The new Corolla will play a critical role in our market ambitions in Europe. It delivers the benefits of the new TNGA platform and increases the appeal of our industry leading self-charging hybrid electric technology.”

Marvin Cooke, TMUK Managing Director, said: “This is a proud day for everyone at TMUK, making the new TNGA Corolla is a major milestone in our production history.

“This is a real sign of confidence in the capabilities of our workforce and in TMUK as a centre for world-class manufacturing. We will continue to deliver the highest level of quality products to our customers.”

The new Corolla will be the first Toyota model in Europe to offer customers the choice of two hybrid powertrains: an upgraded 1.8 litre engine that is manufactured at the Toyota Deeside engine plant in North Wales, and a new powerful 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain. The new Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports wagon will be launched commercially across Europe from February 2019.

Notes to Editors

About TMUK:

The new Corolla is the first model to be built in the UK using the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, the foundation for new generations of Toyota vehicles worldwide. In March 2017, Toyota Motor Europe announced investment of £240 million in its Burnaston operations for the introduction of TNGA production, upgrading its facilities with new equipment, technologies and systems. The UK Government provided funding of up to £21.3m for training, research and development and environmental measures from its Regional Growth Fund.

TMUK was Toyota’s first major manufacturing operation in Europe, with production at the Burnaston car plant and Deeside engine plant starting in 1992. Since that time, Toyota has invested more than £2.75 billion in the business, supporting the production of core models including the Carina, Avensis, Auris and an earlier Corolla hatchback. To date, TMUK has produced more than four million cars and engines and currently employs around 3,200 people across both sites. In 2010, TMUK was Toyota’s first European site for hybrid electric vehicle production, with the introduction of the first Auris Hybrid model. Burnaston also enjoys the status of a Toyota global eco-plant, pioneering innovation and best practice in minimising waste, using sustainable resources and protecting and improving the local environment.

The introduction of TNGA has required multiple upgrades to the Burnaston plant, including an aluminium stamping capability and resin back door assembly, so that lighter weight body shells can be produced; more than 200 new high-speed robots to increase the vehicles’ structural rigidity for enhanced driving performance; and a global resin paint line to achieve higher levels of environmental performance. The factory has also been equipped with an all-new TNGA engine sub-assembly line.

About the TNGA Corolla:

The new Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports wagon are constructed on the TNGA GA-C platform, which is also used for the current Toyota C-HR crossover and Prius models. This brings multiple benefits, including giving the car a lower centre of gravity and enabling greatly increased body rigidity, which contribute to significantly improved ride comfort, stability and dynamic performance. There are greater rewards for the driver, with a lower, more engaging driving position and improvements in safety thanks to the rigid construction and a wide and deep field of vision. In relation to safety, the new Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports wagon incorporate the latest generation of Toyota Safety Sense (TSS).

TNGA also allows for better vehicle packaging with a more spacious cabin and load space, and also greater freedom to create more individual and eye-catching designs. This can be witnessed in the distinctly different styling treatments for the Hatchback and Touring Sports wagon versions of the new Corolla.

ENDS