We have a workforce of more than 17,000 people dedicated to building not just the nine different models we manufacture in Europe, but also most of the engines and transmissions they use as well. Many drivers may not be aware of it, but there is every chance their Toyota was built in Europe.

In fact, more than two in every three vehicles we sell in Europe will have been made at one of our European production centres. With the introduction of the Toyota C-HR from 2017, this ratio is expected to increase to three in every four.

About the Toyota Production System

The way we make vehicles is defined by the Toyota Production System (TPS). It is an original manufacturing philosophy that aims to eliminate waste and achieve the best possible efficiency – what is often called a “lean” or “just-in-time” system. 
We operate TPS throughout our business, including all our vehicle factories. You can find out more about how TPS works and its success here.

Local manufacturing philosophy

We have long believed in the importance of making vehicles local to the markets where they will be sold – a business principle that has proved its value not just in Europe, but in many other world regions as well.

By developing “local” manufacturing sites, we can better understand how our customers use their cars and what their priorities and preferences are when deciding which model to buy. This kind of knowledge is important in our mission to build ever-better cars. Local manufacturing also helps us deliver vehicles more quickly, reducing the time, cost and environmental impact of shipping cars around the world.

Today’s Yaris has stronger environmental credentials, with the hybrid version cutting the level of CO2 emissions by half and achieving a 50% improvement in average fuel consumption, compared to the original 1.0-litre petrol supermini.

This in spite of the fact the car is more powerful and heavier than before, being equipped with more safety systems and extra crash protection features. Hybrid aside, even the current 1.0-litre petrol model now produces less than 100g/km of CO2.

There have been important changes in the way we build Yaris, too. Today we use 90% less water at Valenciennes than we did in 2001, and most of it is sourced from rainwater we collect on-site, or recycled waste water.

We have also made sure that all the waste produced in the manufacturing process is recycled, re-used or recovered – nothing is sent to landfill.

The Yaris is also more aerodynamic in shape, cutting through the air more cleanly, which contributes to its more efficient performance.