Toyota’s European milestone

Japanese car giant celebrates production of nine millionth Toyota in Europe.

Toyota’s European manufacturing began in 1971 with the opening of the Toyota Caetano plant in Portugal, which initially built Corolla models.

Now, from Portugal in the west, to Russia in the east, Toyota has six vehicle plants and three engine factories in Europe.

In fact, two out of every three Toyota vehicles sold in Europe are built here too.

In the UK, Toyota has been producing cars at Burnaston in Derbyshire and engines at Deeside, North Wales, since 1992.

The Burnaston plant currently builds all versions of Auris and Avensis, and is Toyota’s first centre for hybrid vehicle production in Europe.

The company’s other European plants are based in Turkey, France, Poland, the Czech Republic and Russia.