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Toyota’s 50-year UK milestone

Japanese car giant Toyota celebrates half a century in the UK.

Toyota has sold almost three million vehicles in Britain – a far cry from its modest entry to the UK car market way back in 1965.

Toyota's 50th anniversary

The Corona wasn’t big, it wasn’t flashy, but it was the first Toyota to be sold officially in the UK half a century ago.

“Toyota entered the UK market with the aim of providing better cars and better service, even if those weren’t the words used back then,” explains Paul Van der Burgh, Toyota (GB) President and Managing Director.

“But ever since, Toyota has stood out for giving the customer something better – better equipment, better reliability and better service.”

Toyota’s UK facts

  • Pride and Clark were once a leading name in motorcycle sales and parts, then this South London firm made it big with cars as Toyota’s official UK importer.
  • Clocking up 50 years makes Toyota the Japanese car maker with the longest unbroken history in the UK.
  • 1967: the year of peace, love and the introduction of the name Toyota (GB) Ltd.
  • Toyota models are made all over the world and any that are shipped for sale in the UK enter the country at Portbury Docks, Bristol, and Grimsby.
  • The Corolla is no more, but it’s still the most popular Toyota ever, with more than 560,000 sold between 1966 and 2008.
  • Yaris is bidding to surpass Corolla’s achievement – it is Toyota’s best-selling current model, racking up more than 485,000 sales since 1999.
  • Toyota took a 3.8% share of UK new car sales last year. Add in Lexus and the figure is 4.3%.
  • Toyota has been making vehicles in the UK since 1992 when it opened its engine factory at Deeside in North Wales and Burnaston car plant in Derbyshire.
  • The first British-built Toyota was the Carina E, predecessor of today’s Avensis. And the E? That’s for Excellence in Europe.
  • Toyota selected the UK as the location for its (and the motor industry’s) first hybrid vehicle production centre in Europe. The original Auris Hybrid was first produced here in 2010.
  • Lexus has been a part of Toyota GB’s responsibility since the brand was launched in the UK in 1990.
  • Remember 2007? That’s the year Toyota achieved its highest UK sales figures (so far), with more than 143,000 Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold.
  • Toyota is a big player in British car manufacturing. All the Avensis models and all the Auris hatchbacks and wagons are made at the Burnaston plant in Derbyshire.
  • A detailed search for the oldest UK-registered Toyota has come up with two original Corona saloons, still on the road and nearing 50 years old.
  • Toyota has raced and rallied with great success, including BTCC championships with both the Corolla and Carina.

About Gareth Herincx

Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who's worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

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