Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) last week celebrated the five-millionth car to roll off the production line at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire. The milestone model was a Corolla GR Sport Hatchback hybrid. Parked nose-to-tail, all the UK-built Toyotas would form a line almost 14,000 miles long – more than half way around the world.
The achievement highlights TMUK’s status as one of Toyota’s principal European manufacturing centres and a key player in the UK automotive sector. Since its founding in 1989, it has benefitted from more than £2.82 billion investment, keeping it at the cutting edge of new technologies, skills and production methods.
Notably it was the first Toyota facility outside Japan to make hybrid vehicles and it continues to be a centre of excellence for the technology. Today, 100% of UK production is hybrid and the site is the European centre of production for the Corolla Hatchback and Touring Sports full hybrid models.
At the same time, TMUK has consistently been a global trailblazer for Toyota’s ambitious and wide-ranging environmental programme, pioneering the generation and use of sustainable energy sources, minimising waste and maximising opportunities for recovering, recycling and re-using parts and materials. TMUK’s engine plant in Deeside, North Wales, is on course to become Toyota’s first global carbon-neutral production site in 2025.
Proud momentDarius Mikolajczak, TMUK managing director, said: “This is a proud moment for everyone at TMUK and symbolic of the commitment to quality, productivity and competitiveness that is at the heart of our business and shared by all our members. The milestone of five million cars represents more than just a numerical achievement.
“It also reflects our contribution to the UK economy and our continued investment in making ever-better cars, embracing new technologies and new ways of working, while building strong and mutually rewarding relationships both with our suppliers, our partners and our local communities. This would not have been possible without the dedication of all our members, past and present. Their engagement and motivation are second to none and a true credit to our business.”
The current Corolla is the 12th generation in a bloodline that goes back to 1966. It carries forward a heritage of innovation and customer appeal that have made Corolla so successful, ensuring that it remains a key player at the heart of the market.
The majority of TMUK’s vehicle production (around 85%) is exported, mostly to the European Union and other European destinations.