Toyota's First European-Built Passenger Car
at New UK Assembly Plant

Derbyshire, England―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION announced today the line-off of its first European-built passenger car, a metallic blue Carina E sedan, at the company's new UK assembly plant in the British Midlands.

The Carina E, launched in April, is Toyota's first car designed specifically for the European market. The line-off marks Toyota's start of production in Europe; Carina E production until now has been limited to Japan.

On hand to support the event were more than 1,100 employees of Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corporation chairman Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda.

"Today marks the start of our direct participation as a local manufacturer in the European automobile industry," said Dr. Toyoda. "We look forward to contributing something to the exciting growth and development that lie in store for Europe."

Toyota announced plans to manufacture in Europe in April 1989. Besides the £700-million passenger-car plant in Derbyshire, Toyota UK includes a £140-million engine plant located in North Wales. The North Wales facility began operation in September.

Both facilities incorporate production techniques and equipment that equal those of Toyota's most advanced Japanese plants and are among the company's most environment-friendly.

Toyota will begin production in Europe gradually; only about 36,000 Carina E 1.6- and 2.0-liter sedans are scheduled for production in 1993. With the addition of lift-back production, volume the following year is expected to approach 100,000 vehicles. The ultimate target of 200,000 cars will follow as market demand increases.

"Toyota's number one priority is customer satisfaction," said Toyota UK director Bryan Jackson. "From the outset, we guaranteed this satisfaction by investing in people, technology, systems, and training to ensure the high standards of quality expected from Toyota."

By the end of this year, the UK company will have spent around £7.2 million on off-the-job employee training, including skills training in Toyota plants in Japan, the US and Canada.

About 160 European suppliers have been selected by Toyota to supply the two plants. These companies will supply Toyota UK from facilities located in more than 10 countries across Europe, with roughly £700 million in parts annually once production reaches full capacity of 200,000 vehicles. Toyota expects European content to be 80%.

Combined with European design, technical, and training centers located in Brussels and a new European parts depot recently opened in nearby Diest, Belgium, Toyota's total investment in Europe during the past five years approaches £1 billion.