Toyota Lays First Stone Of New Parts Centre In South Of France

New Parts Centre at “Le Pouzin” (Ardèche) to service southern France

Toyota Logistics Services France (TLSFR)* began construction of a new parts centre at a stone-setting ceremony today in Le Pouzin (Ardèche). Located 130 km south of Lyon, the new distribution centre will meet increasing consumer-demand in the region – facilitating faster service, and further enhancing parts availability. The centre will employ up to 50 people by 2004, and the FF 60 million (€ 9.1 million) Toyota is committing to the new centre will bring the company’s total investment in France to over FF 4.15 billion (€ 632 million).

The “Parc Industriel Rhône Vallée” located in Le Pouzin will soon be host to a new parts centre, servicing southern French customers. When it commences its operations in October 2001, the 9000m² facility will have the capacity to supply up to 2.5 million individual parts per year.

Toyota sales are growing rapidly in France. With its new parts centre at Le Pouzin, TLSFR’s objective is to provide a cost-effective solution, offering overnight delivery and further enhancing the delivery speed of spare parts and accessories to customers in southern France.

Toyota is investing heavily in France. A new plant near Valenciennes in the north of the country is currently under construction, representing an investment of FF 4 billion

(€ 609.8 million). The plant is due to begin production of the European-designed Yaris model in early-2001. A new European design centre (ED²), costing FF 90 million (€ 13.7 million) near Nice was recently inaugurated, and the final investment for the Le Pouzin facility is expected to amount to approximately FF 60 million (€ 9.1 million).

The stone-laying ceremony was attended by Akira Imai, TLSFR President; Alain Martin, the Mayor of Le Pouzin; Michel Teston, President of the Ardèche General Council; Mr. Chambon, Vice-President of the Regional Council; and Jean-Claude Bernard, Secretary General of the Prefecture. Mr. Imai and Mr. Teston laid the first stone, thus launching the construction of what will prove to be a vital new factor to ensure the highest levels of parts-servicing, and supporting the future development of Toyota in France.

Akira Imai, TLSFR President commented, “Laying this first stone is a significant step in the development of the new parts centre at Le Pouzin. The site was chosen from several other possibilities because of its place in the heart of the Marseilles-Montpellier-Lyon triangle. It will enable us to attain the highest levels of customer service and meet ever-growing customer demand.”

“I would like to thank all those involved for their help and co-operation,” added Mr.Imai, “and I look forward to a continued and fruitful collaboration between us in the future.”

Note to editors :

Toyota Motor Europe Marketing and Engineering (TMME) was established in October 1990 and is the umbrella organisation handling wholesale marketing and engineering of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, parts and accessories. This organisation has its head office in Brussels, Belgium, and currently employs approximately 1,100 people of more than 20 different nationalities.

*Toyota Logistics Services France (TLSFR) is a recently inaugurated subsidiary of TMME, created to oversee the activities of Toyota’s operations in France

TOYOTA LOGISTICS SERVICES FRANCE

Toyota Parts Centre at Le Pouzin – Statistical Data

• Location – Le Pouzin, Ardèche Region, Southern France – (130 km south of Lyon – within the major urban triangle between Lyon-Marseilles-Montpellier)
• Function – Warehousing, order processing and distribution of parts and accessories to Toyota dealers in the south of France
• Investment – FF. 60 million (€ 9.1 million)
• Parts Handling – 2.5 million individual parts per annum
• Future Employment – 50 employees by 2004
• Completion – End of February 2001
• Beginning of Operations – October 2001
• Total Floor Surface – 9000m²
• Total Land Area – 50,265m²

ENDS