Toyota's U.K. vehicle production base to build hybrid Auris

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced July 17 that it will produce from mid-2010 a hybrid version of the "Auris" hatchback at Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. (TMUK). The hybrid Auris, using engines produced at TMUK's Deeside Plant in the United Kingdom, will be produced at TMUK's Burnaston Plant.

The decision to build the hybrid Auris at TMUK represents the first materialization of TMC's plan to further its business operations in Europe and distinguish itself in that market through the strengths of its hybrid technology. It also reflects TMC's having positioned "product-focused management" and "management that places priority on meeting the needs of regional markets" as pivotal management themes to address the extreme hardships the global automobile industry has been facing in the current economic environment.

More than 370,000 units of the non-hybrid Auris — which is produced at TMUK and at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey Inc. in Turkey — have been sold in Europe since the model's introduction in the spring of 2007.

Based on the philosophy it has had since its birth to "contribute to society through the manufacture of automobiles", TMC, by carefully studying market needs by region, intends to consistently offer products that fully address peoples' needs.

Outline of TMUK

Company name	Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd.
Location	North-central England--vehicle plant: Burnaston; engine plant: Deeside
President	Katsunori Kojima
Establishment	December 1989
Products	Avensis (sedan and station wagon) Auris (five-door hatchback)
Land area	281 hectares (Burnaston: 235 hectares; Deeside: 46 hectares)
Start of production	December 1992
Number of employees	Approx. 4,100 (Burnaston: 3,560; Deeside: 540) (as of June 30, 2009)