Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. (TMUK), TMC’s vehicle manufacturing company in the United Kingdom, held a line-off ceremony today at its plant in Burnaston, England to mark the start of production of the new “Auris” compact hatchback.
The ceremony was attended by many guests, including U.K. Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Rt. Hon. Dr. Vince Cable MP, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) Didier Leroy, and TMUK President Katsunori Kojima. At the ceremony Leroy said: “Toyota chose the U.K. as the location for its first manufacturing center in Europe 20 years ago and has regularly made significant investments to develop TMUK’s operations and expand their capabilities. New Auris is at the heart of our European strategy and we expect it to strengthen our sales performance in the family car market.”
The new Auris compact hatchback is available with three engine types—gasoline, hybrid and diesel—to satisfy a wide range of consumer needs. In 2013, TMUK also plans to launch the “Auris Touring Sports” station wagon with the same three engine types.
For the launch of the new Auris, TMUK has invested approximately 185 million pounds in its U.K. manufacturing and supply chain and hired approximately 800 new temporary workers. Since the start of production 20 years ago, TMUK has now cumulatively invested approximately 2.1 billion pounds into the local economy and produced more than 3.25 million vehicles.
TMC continues to be committed to making vehicles that truly satisfy consumers in Europe and to conducting European operations based on its principle of contributing to society through the manufacture of automobiles.
