We’re breaking big news today with the official announcement from Toyota that it will build a full hybrid version of the Auris hatchback in the UK with production starting next year. It will be the first British-built hybrid car.
This ground-breaking car, featuring Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive Technology, will be built at the Burnaston factory. Engines will be supplied by the Deeside facility in North Wales.
More details will be revealed at the Frankfurt motor show which starts on 15 September 2009, but we can confirm that production of the Auris hybrid will kick off in the middle of 2010, with sales launched before the end of the year. Rest assured we will be keeping you up-to-date with all the key developments in the project, as soon as we hear about them.
This is Toyota’s first full hybrid to be built in Europe, and the first hybrid to be built in the UK. This exciting declaration underlines Toyota’s commitment to expanding the range of low-emissions hybrid vehicles, and to car production in Britain.
Tadashi Arashima, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, said: “Toyota has taken a significant step forward in ensuring that full hybrids become more accessible to a wider range of customers. Such efforts are crucial if we are to see more low-carbon vehicles on European Roads.
“Our decision to produce a full hybrid in the UK reflects both our confidence in the quality and commitment of the TMUK workforce and the strength of our long-standing partnership with the UK Government. Today’s announcement is positive for Toyota, our UK suppliers and the local communities here,” he said.
Friday’s announcement on the first British-built hybrid car also coincides with a visit to Burnaston by Lord Mandelson, the Government’s Business Secretary. Lord Mandelson welcomed this “forward-looking investment in Britain from a world class manufacturer”.
He added: “As part of our low carbon industrial strategy we set out to make Britain the best place in the world to develop low carbon vehicles. These commitments, backed by the formidable skills of the UK automotive workers, enable companies like Toyota to invest with confidence in low carbon car production in the UK. It demonstrates that the UK’s car industry is already making the low carbon transition.”
Auris has been built by Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) at Burnaston since 2007. The factory, Toyota’s first car plant in Europe, opened in 1992 and has produced more than 2.5 million vehicles, including Carina E, Corolla and Avensis, for sale in Europe and export to other markets worldwide.
Today TMUK employs more than 4,000 workers and has benefited from investment totalling more than £1.85 billion.
Details in this article were correct at the time of publication.
Hi,
Is there an e-mail we could send questions too please?
My questions are:
1. What’s the reason for leather being a UK applied extra and not taking the factory installed version?
2. How long does it take the leather to be applied in the UK? It seems that customers who ordered leather are having to wait quite alot longer for their cars.
3. Some dealers are receiving customer cars now. Can those customers pick them up once prepared or does everyone have to wait till the 1st August?
4. Is the iPod integration kit different between the T-Spirit (Nav equipped) and T3 and T4 models?
Thanks
This sounds like good news…I like the hybrid format, having owned a Prius…the only slight disadvantage being large batteries taking up boot space etc. It will be interesting to see how the Auris compares from this point of view…it could be a real world beater!
Will the new lines be engineered here in the UK using UK intergrators or built abroad and imported.
Thanks
The New Prius & DAB Radio, I test drove the new Prius and it is a great car apart from too much road noise. My question is, there is a DAB/AM button but no sign of a DAB tuner so is this a dealer or factory option as its not in the list of extras? Ive tried asking dealers but they dont have a clue and there is no email or phone number for direct Toyota queries. as everyone knows FM is being switched off from 2012 to 2015
Andy, think you may be a bit premature with your prediction of FM switch-off. As far as I know it’s only the TV switchover that is scheduled, no date set yet for
FM radio broadcasts; see:
http://www.digitalradiotech.co.uk/dab/fm_switch-off.htm
DAB coverage is going to have to get a whole lot better before the FM switchoff will be considered I think.
Vic
Hi,
Good news about the Auris Hybrid, as I find the design of the Prius (new or old model), totally uninspiring to say the least. I guess the Auris Hybrid will at least look like a normal vehicle, rather than some moving object with a foriegn body stuck up its rear end! By that I mean the Prius.
I would like to ask Toyota (or anyone with any knowledge of the Toyota product), what happened to the rumoured Sports Hybrid????
That is what I have been waiting patiently for. I have owned over 30 new Toyotas including most of their Sports models. The current model range does nothing for me, so where is this Sports Hybrid????? Or, have I been dreaming??
Regards,
Dennis
I agree.
A decade ago Toyota had a wide range of vehicles, including the sport models, MR2 & Celica, both of which have been dropped.
Instead we now find their range weighted to the smaller cars with three super-mini type cars in the range IQ, Aygo & Yaris and the dullest of dull, the Auris. I am happy it is built in the UK supporting our jobs, but an interesting car it is not.
Hello Again,
Its Dennis here once more. I have just viewed the new proposed Honda Sports Hybrid. The front end looks superb, but yet again the rear end / profile looks like its had shunt up the rear. I guess its got something to do with the placement of the batteries.
For over 25 years I have trusted the Toyota Product and would recommend them to anyone! Indeed, I can count the number of faults incurred on over 30 of their vehicles, on just one hand! Just superb reliabilty.
Its just the current model range & the majority of their designs I find sterile. Come on Toyota, take the bull by the horns & start designing some exciting new Hybrid vehicles.
I want to spend my money on a new Toyota. Not a Honda, BMW or Audi. SOMEBODY TALK TO ME, PLEASE. Give some positive news on the model range.
DENNIS
Dennis, I may be wrong but I think you’ll find the shape of the prius (and quite a few similar copies recently) is little to do with the placement of the battery and much more to do with achieving a class leading Cd.
Vic
Shame Toyota here in England never:-
1. Imported the excellent Alphard, Vanguard, Liteace and Townace ‘vans’/Mpvs.
2. Having decided only the Verso for England, why not hybrid versions of that = the perfect car!
or the Camry hubrid?
Sadly the Auris is a dreadful example of style over function.
Suggest it be scrapped and the team that brought us Verso be tasked to replace Aurice with the new Corolla?
I agree, the VERSO TSPIRIT has great style and functionality, definately our next new vehicle. Just on the history,from what I understand the AVENSIS was the first VERSO and the CORROLA VERSO was not launched until 2002 but I recently saw a CORROLA VERSO 51 plate registered in Nov 01, was this a one off ?