The Japanese car-making giant Toyota has announced it will build the third generation of the Auris model in its factory in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, amid increased business risks associated with the country’s departure from the European Union. The company added that it will use an additional number of engines produced in its Welsh Deeside plant for the next version of the car. Also, the move will help secure around 3,000 jobs at the two sites which have produced 4 million cars and 5 million engines over the last 25 years, the company stated.
“Today’s announcement that we will manufacture the new Auris at Burnaston, with most engines to be supplied from Deeside, shows our confidence in the skills and capabilities of our Toyota UK members,” President of Toyota Europe, Johan van Zyl said. “With around 85% of our UK vehicle production exported to European markets, continued free and frictionless trade between the UK and Europe will be vital for future success.”
Earlier, the company announced a £240 million investment to provide new equipment for the Burnaston factory, allowing it to produce the next generation of Toyota vehicles. The UK business secretary Greg Clark referred to the decision as a “testament to the highly-skilled and committed workforce that helps make the UK’s automotive sector one of the most productive in the world.”