Chancellor of the exchequer launches UK production of Auris

The Rt Hon. Gordon Brown MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, officially launched the start of UK production of Auris, the new Toyota, during his visit to the company’s Burnaston Plant, Derbyshire yesterday (26 February, 2007).

During his visit the Chancellor toured the Auris assembly lines and met with workers and senior management from Toyota’s UK and Europe operations before being driven off the production line to symbolise the official start of production of Toyota’s all-new C-segment hatchback.

Speaking to an audience, which included employees, suppliers and representatives from Amicus, local government and the local community, the Chancellor said: “I am delighted to be here in Burnaston to see for myself this successful plant, and to congratulate all those involved as the UK production of the Auris begins.

“Britain is now in the longest period of economic growth of any major economy since the second world war. Since 1997, we have become the most stable major economy in the world, and we have risen from bottom of the rich nations in terms of wealth per head to second. Employment levels are at record highs – in the last year the UK has created over 23,000 new jobs per month.

“With growth becoming stronger and more balanced, business investment rising, and inflation set to fall, we have all the conditions in place for continued stable growth in the years ahead. We will never put that hard-won stability at risk, and we will continue making the necessary long-term investment in skills, education, jobs and innovation so we can compete ever more successfully in a more global world.”

The event was attended by an audience of over 300 employees and guests, including The Rt Hon. Margaret Hodge MBE MP, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, Department of Trade and Industry, Andrew Davies, Welsh Assembly Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks and the Japanese UK Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Yoshiji Nogami.

Hein Van Gerwen, Managing Director, Toyota Manufacturing UK added: “We are delighted that the Chancellor joined our celebrations and was so positive about the contribution of our employees.

“Auris is an important vehicle for Toyota in Europe and we believe sets new quality standards in the competitive European C-segment. By holding this event at the end of the production line enables us to demonstrate our total commitment to delivering superior quality for every customer.”

The production of Auris in the UK is further demonstration of Toyota’s commitment to building cars close to customers. Across Europe Toyota has invested over 6 billion euros in Europe and continue to spend over 5 billion euros each year with European suppliers – 2 billion of which is with UK suppliers.

To date Toyota has invested over £1.75 billion into its two UK manufacturing plants, which currently employ over 4,800 employees.

In 2006 Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston Plant produced 282,215 vehicles, its third successive year of record production. At its engine plant over 435,000 units were produced, made up of fully assembled engines and machined engine sets for export to Toyota plants throughout the world.

Around 85 per cent of vehicles are sent for export, 70 per cent of that figure to mainland Europe and around 15 per cent to 70 countries worldwide.

Designed at Toyota’s European Design Development centre, ED2, in the south of France, Auris is the way forward for Toyota. Auris will join the highly successful Toyota Yaris and Avensis in helping Toyota to achieve its revised European sales target of 1.22 million units per year in 2007.

Based on a newly developed platform, Auris is available with a wide range of engines and transmissions. UK sales of the Auris began on 1 February, with launches across Europe between February and April.

Toyota expects to sell 150,000 Auris in 2007 with sales rising to 200,000 sales annually on a full year basis.