Toyota has confirmed plans to begin building new vehicles in the UK in the coming years as it looks to avoid US President Trump's steep auto tariffs.
Toyota Motor Europe will begin production of the GR Corolla model at its Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) site from 2026.
Preparations are already underway to begin production of the GR Corolla, with TMUK chosen for its "manufacturing capability and motorsport expertise".
It will also make the UK factory the first overseas Toyota plant to manufacture GR vehicles, marking the expansion of its GAZOO racing division.
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Toyota said it would provide further details about the production schedules in the near future
PA
Toyota said it would provide details of sales targets, production volumes and investment levels at a later date.
The development of the GR Corolla follows on from the debut of the GR Supra in 2019. Other models include the GR Yaris in 2020, GR86 in 2021 and GR Corolla in 2022.
The Japanese company said it was looking to optimise its global production footprint to deliver the best vehicles to customers as quickly as possible.
It added that the TMUK team and key suppliers had been notified of the plans in 2024, with production confirmed to begin next year.
The Toyota GR Corolla will be built in the UK from 2026
TOYOTA
Yoshihiro Nakata, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, praised the move to begin manufacturing the GR Corolla in the UK.
He said: "We are proud that TMUK, our first plant in Europe, has also been selected as the first overseas Toyota plant to produce GR vehicles, securing this expansion project for TGR worldwide.
"We very much appreciate the historical support and recognition of the United Kingdom and would like to continue to contribute to UK society as a 'Best in Town' company."
Toyota's GAZOO Racing team was created in 2009 and was based on the vision of former Executive Vice President Akio Toyoda.
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It has since become the fastest-growing brand under the Toyota umbrella, providing a further boost for UK manufacturing.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK has two factories around the country, with a vehicle manufacturing plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and an engine plant in Deeside, North Wales.
The Aichi-based manufacturer has invested £2.75billion into its two manufacturing plants in the UK, as well as supporting around 3,000 employees.
The Burnaston factory currently makes the Toyota Corolla E210 and has previously manufactured the Carina E, Avensis, Corolla and Auris models.
Many experts have suggested that Toyota made the decision to invest further in the UK to avoid US President Donald Trump's high tariffs on foreign vehicle imports.
Following a landmark phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, it was confirmed that the UK would benefit from a new trade deal.
This will allow the UK to export up to 100,000 vehicles to the United States at a tariff rate of just 10 per cent, down from an effective rate of 27.5 per cent.
So far this year, Toyota has registered 31,445 new cars in the UK, which represents an impressive 4.49 per cent of the total market share.
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