Toyota Announces New Investment in its UK Car Plant

TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE NV/SA

Avenue du Bourget 60 – Bourgetlaan 60
B-1140 Brussels – Belgium
T +32 2 745 21 11 – F +32 2 745 20 99

• Burnaston manufacturing plant in Derbyshire (UK) to be upgraded to enable production of vehicles using the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform
• Investment of more than £240 million in Toyota’s UK manufacturing operations

Brussels, Belgium – March 16^th – Toyota Motor Europe today announced that it will invest a further £240 million in its Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) car plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire (UK). Toyota’s investment will improve plant competitiveness and additionally it will promote UK supply chain efficiencies.

Starting this year, the Burnaston facility will be progressively upgraded with new equipment, technologies and systems. This will enable production of vehicles on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.

The investment programme also includes up to £21.3 million support^*1 from the UK Government for training, research and development and further enhancements of the plant’s environmental performance.

Announcing the investment, Dr Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, said:

“We are very focused on securing the global competitiveness of our European plants. The roll-out of TNGA manufacturing capability is part of this plan. This upgrade of TMUK is a sign of confidence in our employees and suppliers and their focus on superior quality and greater efficiency. We welcome the UK Government funding contribution for this activity.”

“Our investment demonstrates that, as a company, we are doing all we can to raise the competitiveness of our Burnaston plant in Derbyshire. Continued tariff-and-barrier free market access between the UK and Europe that is predictable and uncomplicated will be vital for future success.”

Toyota has launched a global programme to upgrade its manufacturing sites to produce TNGA-based vehicles. By 2020, the majority of Toyota’s global models will be built using TNGA platforms. TNGA already underpins the new, fourth generation Prius and the all-new, Toyota C-HR crossover, which is built in Turkey, vehicles that epitomise Toyota’s commitment to build ever-better cars for our customers.

^*1 Government Funding is subject to due diligence.

###

For pictures, please visit: http://newsroom.toyota.eu/

Notes to the editors:

Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, parts and accessories, and Toyota’s European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly employs around 20,000 people in Europe and has invested over EUR 9 billion since 1990. Toyota’s operations in Europe are supported by a network of 30 National Marketing and Sales Companies across 53 countries, a total of around 3,000 sales outlets, and nine manufacturing plants. In 2016, Toyota sold 928,488 Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Europe. For more information, visit www.toyota-europe.com

About Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK)

The Burnaston factory and TMUK’s engine plant in Deeside, North Wales, were established in 1989 as Toyota’s first major production sites in Europe. Since start of production in 1992 they have built more than four million vehicles and around five million engines and engine sets in the UK. The plants have benefited from Toyota investment totalling more than 2.5 billion pounds and together currently employ over 3,000 people. TMUK has the distinction of being Toyota’s first centre for hybrid vehicle manufacturing in Europe.  It also enjoys global status as a Toyota eco-plant, promoting excellence and best practice in environmental matters, from energy-efficient manufacturing to the on-site harnessing of sustainable energy and the promotion of biodiversity.

For more information, please contact: