TMUK Builds 100,000th Carina E

Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION announced today that Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. (TMUK) celebrated the production of the 100,000th Carina E built at its Burnaston passenger car plant.

The Rt Hon. Michael Heseltine, MP, president of the U.K.'s Board of Trade, drove the 100,000th car off the production line and praised TMUK for its contribution to the British automobile industry.

TMUK began production with the Carina E sedan in December 1992. Since then, production has increased from 37,000 Carina E units in 1993 to around 90,000 this year, with the addition of a liftback variant in December 1993, and the implementation of a second shift in February 1994.

Not only does the TMUK-built car use a high percentage of European parts, components, and materials―a local content level of 80% by late 1994―but many of the suppliers for TMUK contribute to exports as well. This European export business is worth an estimated £15 million a year. Said TMUK Managing Director Yukihisa Hirano, "Our long-term supplier partnerships are becoming well established, and to date, have resulted in a number of our suppliers winning contracts to supply Toyota in Japan. We really appreciate our suppliers' contribution to our localization program." More than a dozen TMUK suppliers have won such contracts to supply Toyota in Japan.

TMUK employs 1,900 persons, including 140 at its engine plant in Deeside, North Wales. The engine plant also enjoys export success, with the shipping of 1.6-liter engines to Toyotasa, a Toyota joint venture in Turkey, and engine parts to Toyota in Japan.