(Left to right) Marvin Cooke Toyota Motor Europe, executive vice president, Mark Drakeford, First Minister for Wales, Tim Freeman TMUK deputy managing directorToyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) marked 30 years of production at its engine plant on Deeside, North Wales, last week, welcoming guests to the plant for a showcase of its operations and an insight into its progress towards achieving carbon-neutral production within the next few years.
The First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford, the UK Government’s Wales Minister David TC Davies and Matt Harrison, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, joined members of the Senedd, Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami, representatives from local authorities, organisations and businesses, suppliers and community representatives for the occasion, which included the planting of a cherry tree to mark the anniversary.
TMUK Deeside came on line in September 1990, initially to supply engines to the company’s new car plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire. Together, the two facilities established Toyota’s first fully owned manufacturing operations in Europe. Since that time, Deeside’s activities have expanded and embraced new technologies, benefitting to date from £360 million investment. Notably, in 2010, it became the first location for the manufacture of Toyota hybrid engines outside Japan.
The company employs more than 600 people and supports many more jobs in its network of local and national suppliers. Low emission hybrid and petrol engines are produced both for TMUK Burnaston and for export to Toyota production centres worldwide, including Turkey and South Africa.
Highly efficient electrified powertrainsWith Toyota’s continued development of highly efficient electrified powertrains, Deeside is commencing production of engines featuring fifth-generation hybrid technology. This year it is on course to build more than 250,000 units, taking its historic total to more than five million.
Its production profile reflects Toyota’s multi-technology approach to decarbonising mobility, a strategy that embraces hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicles (EVs). This range of electrification solutions is helping accelerate reduction in carbon emissions while ensuring that widely differing user requirements can be met.
Visitors to TMUK Deeside were able to view vehicles and systems using these technologies that are being brought to the market today, including the all-new Toyota bZ4X battery electric SUV and Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, Mirai.
TMUK Deeside is at the forefront of Toyota’s global efforts to achieve zero-carbon emissions from its business operations and help create a sustainable mobility future for all, with no one left behind. Established as one of the company’s global Eco Plants, it has successfully identified and introduced methods for reducing energy consumption and sourcing renewable energy on-site.
Around 80% of waste from its production processes is recycled and reused to generate electricity and green hydrogen. These and other measures, together with the co-operation of its partner and supplier businesses and other stakeholders, put TMUK Deeside on course to achieve carbon neutral production by 2025.
Mr Drakeford said: “I am delighted to celebrate 30 years of manufacturing by Toyota on Deeside, the enduring commitment shown by the company to Wales and faith in the local workforce. It is a milestone the company is rightly proud of and one that reflects excellence in all aspects of its operations.
Center of excellenceMatt Harrison, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, said: “TMUK Deeside proved the perfect foundation stone for developing the strong, efficient and competitive Toyota manufacturing operations that today extend right across Europe. It remains a centre of excellence for production and a global leader in our mission to eliminate carbon emissions from all areas of our business.
“The commitment and hard work of all our members over the past 30 years has been central to the achievements we have made and our confidence in being able to deliver on our ambitious goals for the future. We are indebted to the continued support of our partners and suppliers, the Welsh and UK governments and the many stakeholders who have embraced our vision for high-quality, high-efficiency manufacturing. We remain focused on the competitiveness of our operations so we can build on today’s production landmark in the years ahead.”
Tim Freeman, TMUK deputy managing director and TMUK Deeside plant manager, said: “Toyota Manufacturing UK produces the Corolla Hatchback and Corolla Touring Sport models at its vehicle manufacturing plant at Burnaston, Derbyshire, and petrol and hybrid engines at its engine manufacturing plant at Deeside, North Wales. In 2021, TMUK produced 131,024 vehicles and 257,395 engines for export and for local assembly at plants around the world. To date, Toyota has invested over £2.75 billion into its UK manufacturing operations and currently employs over 3,000 people.”
Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota, GR (Gazoo Racing) and Lexus vehicles and parts and accessories, as well as Toyota’s European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly employs over 25,000 people and has invested over 11 billion euros in Europe since 1990. Its eight European manufacturing plants are located in Portugal, the UK, France, Poland, Czech Republic and Turkey.
Today, there are approximately 16.5 million Toyota, GR and Lexus vehicles on European roads, whose drivers are supported by a network of 28 national marketing and sales companies and around 2,800 retail sales outlets in 53 countries (the EU, the UK, EFTA countries, plus Russia, Israel, Turkey and other Eastern European countries). In 2021, TME sold 1,076,300 vehicles in Europe for a 6.4% market share.