Toyota has today announced that the Avensis model, built exclusively at the company’s UK factory in Burnaston, will be exported to Japan. The launch of the third-generation Avensis in Japan later this year will mark the 48th country that the model is shipped to worldwide.
The UK achieves a typical vehicle export rate of around 75%, and this looks set to be boosted following the positive announcement from Toyota.
The decision has been welcomed by government as an endorsement of British manufacturing skills and quality. “Toyota exports 85% of the cars and engines it makes at its UK plants in Burnaston and Deeside,” said Business Secretary Vince Cable. “Today’s news that it will now export its Avensis model to Japan is a tribute to the skills of the workforce, the efficiency of the plants and the quality of its products.”
Demand for European styling and engineering from its customers prompted the decision to introduce Avensis to the Japanese domestic market. The cars will be shipped from the UK at a rate of 750 vehicles a month with production commencing in July.
The Avensis was introduced in 1997. By the end of 2010, more than 1.8 million examples of the model had been built – all at Burnaston – for sale in the UK, Europe and other markets worldwide. To date, Toyota has invested over £1.85 billion in its UK manufacturing operations having been established in 1992.
