Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has announced plans to manufacture a full hybrid version of its C-segment hatchback, Auris, at its plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire.
Production of Toyota's first European-built full hybrid will kick-off at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) in mid-2010. Engines will be produced at TMUK's facility in Deeside, north Wales.
Tadashi Arashima, chief executive officer and president of TME, said: ‘With this announcement, Toyota has taken a significant step forward in ensuring that full hybrids become more accessible to a wider range of customers. Such efforts are crucial if we are to see more low-carbon vehicles on European roads.'
The Toyota Auris hit the European market in spring 2007. Since then, it has sold more than 370,000 vehicles. Auris now comes equipped with a 1.33-litre dual VVT-I engine and Toyota’s Start&Stop technology, reducing CO2 emissions by 17 per cent (135g/km) and improving fuel consumption by 19 per cent (48.7mpg combined cycle).
TMUK started production in 1992 as Toyota's first manufacturing company in Europe and today employs around 4,100 workers. The plant has produced more than 2.5m vehicles to date, including the Carina E, Corolla, Avensis and Auris, for sale in Europe and export overseas.
TMUK is one of nine Toyota manufacturing companies in Europe.
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