Corolla passes milestone as Toyota’s five millionth car built in the UK

Toyota Motor Europe is celebrating the production of its five millionth car at the Burnaston plant in Derbyshire. The milestone model is a Corolla GR Sport Hatchback hybrid, which rolled off the assembly line earlier this month. This achievement underscores Burnaston’s role as a key player in Toyota’s European manufacturing network and the UK automotive sector. Since its founding in 1989, the plant has received over €3.25 billion in investment, ensuring it remains at the forefront of new technologies and production methods.

Burnaston was the first Toyota facility outside Japan to produce hybrid vehicles and continues to be a center of excellence for this technology. Today, 100% of its production is hybrid.

Corolla: The World’s Best-Seller

The Corolla nameplate has appeared on more vehicles worldwide than any other, with over 50 million sold to date. Now in its 12th generation, the current Corolla continues to uphold the quality, durability, and reliability that have contributed to its success. Today’s Corolla offers peace of mind to customers, ensuring their car remains dependable. It combines key aspects such as safety, on-board connectivity, efficient performance, and a rewarding driving experience, all within a stylish and practical package.

Toyota Manufacturing in the UK

The UK plays a significant role in Toyota’s European operations. It is here that Toyota built its first European production facilities – establishing Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) with an engine plant in Deeside, North Wales, and a car factory at Burnaston, near Derby. These plants came on stream in 1992, since when Toyota has invested €3.25 billion in its operations. Today TMUK directly employs around 3,000 people and many thousands more indirectly in an extensive supply chain. The majority of TMUK’s vehicle production (around 85%) is exported, mostly to the European Union and other European markets.

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 27,000 people and has invested over EUR 10 billion 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 14.7 million Toyota 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 (EU, UK, EFTA countries + Russia, Israel, Turkey and other Eastern European countries). In 2023, TME sold 1,173,419 vehicles in Europe for a 6.7% market share. For more information, visit www.toyota-europe.com.

Toyota believes that when people are free to move, anything is possible. In the pursuit of "Mobility for All", Toyota aims to create safer, more connected, inclusive and sustainable mobility to achieve its mission of producing “Happiness for All”. In Europe, TME launched the KINTO mobility brand which offers a range of mobility services in 20 countries and is growing its business-to-business sales of zero-emission fuel cell products and engineering support. Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Toyota is working to achieve carbon neutrality in its entire business across Europe. A historic leader in CO2 reduction in Europe, TME aims to achieve 100% CO2 reduction in all new vehicles in Western Europe by 2035 and will continue to offer a full range of electrified powertrains to customers across the region with its hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery and fuel cell electric vehicles.