Mar. 15, 2001

Toyota to Boost Engine Production in U.K.

 

Tokyo - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today a plan to expand operations at the engine plant of Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. (TMUK), making TMUK its main engine production center in Europe.
According to the plan, TMUK, which presently produces gasoline engines (1.6-liter and 1.4-liter units for the Corolla, 1.8-liter and 1.6-liter units for the Avensis and 1-liter units for the Yaris), will take on the added responsibilities of:
  1. assembly of 2-liter, common rail direct-injection diesel engines-aimed at 2003 start (currently, such engines are made in Japan and exported to TMUK)
  2. export of gasoline engine components for Corollas made in South America and South Africa.
Meanwhile, on the basis that efficiency is enhanced by carrying out engine assembly close to the vehicle assembly plant of destination, assembly of the gasoline engines TMUK now produces for Toyota vehicle assembly operations in France and Turkey will move to the respective French and Turkish plants in 2002. Machining will remain at TMUK.
With the introduction of diesel engine assembly and other measures, actual annual engine production at TMUK will more than double to 400,000 units in 2003. At that time, employment at TMUK's engine plant is expected to rise from the current approximately 350 to around 600.
Outline of TMUK engine plant
Plant location Deeside, Flintshire
Production start September 1992
Product line 1.8L/1.6L gasoline engines for Avensis
1.6L/1.4L gasoline engines for Corolla
1.0L gasoline engine for Yaris
(2-liter, common rail direct injection diesel engine assembly- aimed at 2003 start)
Annual production 185,000 units (plan for 2001) increasing to 400,000 units (from 2003)
Employees about 350 increasing to about 600 (at full operation in 2003)