Toyota’s pioneering Yaris hits 10 million global milestone

Since 1999, the award-winning Yaris has fuelled Toyota’s design and production growth in Europe
30/03/2023
By the end of February 2023, cumulative European sales of the Yaris family, which includes the Yaris Cross and GR Yaris reached 5,155,506. In 2022, annual sales represented over one-third of Toyota’s total sales in Europe, showing the big impact this Little Genius has made over almost 25 years.

A ‘big small’ concept over four generations

Since its launch in 1999, the Yaris ‘big small’ concept, inspired by European tastes, has pioneered B-segment innovation with each of its four generations, including the first-ever Hybrid in its class and the iconic GR Yaris sportscar. The Yaris has twice won the Car of the Year title while the Yaris WRC and GR Yaris Rally1 HYBRID have achieved multiple titles in the FIA World Rally Championship. In 2021, the Yaris family expanded to include the urban crossover SUV Yaris Cross, helping the Yaris nameplate join Corolla, Camry, RAV4, Hilux and Land Cruiser as Toyota vehicles to have sold 10 million or more units.
Discover the Yaris range (Opens in new window)
“This global sales milestone is a token of the confidence that the Toyota Group has continuously demonstrated towards this French site that has produced more than 4.5 million Yaris and Yaris Cross cars.”
Didier Leroy, Chairman, Toyota Motor Europe

Designed and built for Europe, in Europe

Toyota European Design Development near Nice, France, and its predecessor in Brussels, have shared design responsibilities with Japan on each generation of Yaris. Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF) has produced the Yaris since 2001 and the Yaris Cross since 2021, the same year that Toyota Motor Manufacturing Czech Republic in Kolin also started Yaris production to cater for increasing European demand. Key components within the Yaris, such as the petrol and hybrid electric engines and transmissions are also locally produced, at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland, which supplies both production plants.  
Toyota’s European production sites

A factory with an impressive environmental record

As well as bringing electrification to a wider audience with the third generation Hybrid, the Yaris also inspired a dedicated manufacturing plant, TMMF. The facility is the largest automotive production site by volume in France. It employs 5,000 people and has made a total cumulative investment of 1.5 billion euros, including for continuous improvement of environmental performance. Its size is 30% more compact versus a comparable automotive plant, giving it a head start to dramatically cut energy and emissions. A new paint line in the Plastics shop, a Toyota global first, is expected to deliver annual savings of 1,000 tonnes of CO2.
Full press release (Opens in new window)
“Yaris has been synonymous with Toyota’s growth in Europe, becoming our best-selling and most produced vehicle in the region. It has also redefined our brand accessibility and awareness.”
Matt Harrison, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Europe