UK manufacturing was boosted today as Toyota announced the start of production for its new Avensis model at its Burnaston factory.
The introduction of the revised, UK-built, Avensis will reach showrooms early next year and reaffirms Toyota’s commitment to Burnaston and to UK manufacturing. Burnaston is Toyota’s largest production site in Europe and has benefited from £1.15 billion investment since it opened in 1992 and, as the centre for all Avensis production, has built three generations of the model since 1997.
Tony Walker, Toyota Manufacturing UK Deputy Managing Director, said, “This is great news for Burnaston, we are proud to be starting work on the new Avensis, a car that is central to Toyota’s European strategy and a key model for the UK. British-built, and with petrol engines sourced from Toyota’s Deeside factory plus ultra-efficient diesels, it is a stronger market contender than ever before.”
Unveiled at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the new-look Avensis builds on the spaciousness, practicality and fuel efficiency that are the established hallmark qualities of the model, delivering sharper contemporary styling, a quieter and more comfortable cabin and improved driving dynamics. In addition, its top-selling 2.0-litre D-4D engine has been significantly revised to achieve lower emissions and better fuel economy: with CO2 levels brought down to 119g/km, it strengthens Avensis’s appeal as a high value proposition, particularly for fleet operators and company car drivers.
For more information about UK automotive manufacturing download SMMT’s Motor Industry Facts 2011.
