It has been reported in the Japanese press that Toyota says it will build a new hybrid car in the UK for Suzuki.

Toyota’s head of UK operations, Marvin Cook (www.toyotauk.com), said: “Seeking to produce additional volume for other customers is one example of all the efforts we are making to keep our UK manufacturing operations as competitive as they can be,” adding that Toyota expects production of the hybrid car to start in late 2020 at its plants in Deeside and Burnaston.

“We have consistently said that, for the medium to longer term, continued free and frictionless trade and common automotive technical standards will be essential to support the international competitiveness of the UK automotive
sector,” said Mr Cooke, confirming that this announcement by Toyota, which employs more than 3,200 people at its two plants in the UK “demonstrates Toyota’s trust in its local workforces.”

Toyota said that it would supply hybrid electric vehicles to Suzuki based on the Toyota Corolla Wagon, and that the announcement builds on a memorandum of understanding between the two companies in 2017 “to work closely together on projects, while maintaining their independence and competitiveness”.

In a joint statement, the companies said: “Toyota and Suzuki, in addition to bringing together Toyota’s strength in electrification technologies and Suzuki’s strength in technologies for com-pact vehicles, intend to grow in new fields, such as joint collaboration in production and in the widespread popularisation of electrified vehicles.”