Toyota GB

Toyota is one of the world’s best-known and most successful businesses, building cars and trucks in 26 countries for sale in more than 160 markets around the globe. Worldwide production was 10.285 million (9.004 million for Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles) in 2014. Toyota global production in 2014 was 10.285 million vehicles. That’s the equivalent of one car coming off the production line every 3.1 seconds, every minute, every hour, every day. A key element in Toyota’s success is its commitment to designing, engineering and building cars in the world regions where they will be sold. In Europe, this local manufacturing policy was launched in 1989 with the founding of Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, just ahead of the opening of Toyota’s first European production centres: a car plant at Burnaston, near Derby, and an engine factory at Deeside, in North Wales. The level of UK production has made Toyota a key player in the nation’s manufacturing industry. With the large majority of its UK output destined for export, Toyota also makes a valuable contribution to the national balance of payments. Burnaston is responsible for worldwide production of the Toyota Avensis and has the distinction of being the first Toyota factory to export cars to the company’s “home” market in Japan. In 2004 Toyota invested a further £50 million to increase production capacity at Burnaston to 285,000 vehicles a year and in 2005 TMUK’s achievements were recognised with the Queen’s Award for International Trade. In 2009 Toyota announced Burnaston would lead its European development of hybrid power models, tasked with building hybrid versions of the Auris hatchback, from July 2010. In 2011 a further £100 million investment was announced for TMUK to produce Toyota’s next-generation Auris hatchback and wagon – including hybrid versions of both body styles – from late 2012. As a result, TMUK added a significant number of new jobs, with further business and employment benefits experienced among its UK supplier firms. The sales performance over the past decade has consolidated the UK’s position as one of Toyota’s strongest European markets.