Toyota to invest £7m in Deeside plant as company announces plans to produce hybrid engine for new crossover model

Toyota’s forthcoming hybrid crossover will feature engines built at the manufacturer’s plant in Deeside, following confirmation today of investment worth £7m in the engine plant.

• Project to benefit from Toyota investment of around £7 million.
• Hybrid engines to be exported to Turkey to be built into the model based on the Toyota C-HR concept.

The addition of the new high-tech engine to the factory’s production is attracting additional investment of around £7 million in operations by Toyota Motor Europe, including grant support of more than £700,000 from the Welsh Government, Economy Minister Edwina Hart’s is to visit the plant today.

New hybrid engine will help secure jobs at the Deeside plant and reaffirms the facility’s central role in Toyota’s European manufacturing operations.

Welcoming the news, Jim Crosbie, Engine Plant Director, said:

“Toyota has a long and successful record of building engines in North Wales. This announcement is a big vote of confidence in the high skills, quality and commitment of our workforce.”

“Deeside was chosen to be Toyota’s first plant in Europe to manufacture a hybrid engine and we are proud to have delivered on that opportunity and to have now been selected to build this next generation hybrid engine.”

Team Leader Paul Hughes checking a trial engine, watched by Edwina HArt AM, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport and Jim Crosbie Plant Director

On a visit to Deeside Toyota’s plant today, Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport said:

“This is excellent news and I am delighted this very significant investment has been secured for Toyota’s facility on Deeside. It will not only provide a platform for growth in what is an extremely competitive market but will help secure the long term sustainable future of the plant and safeguard skilled, well-paid jobs in the region.

“It is a strong vote of confidence in the management team and the highly skilled workforce and a clear reflection of the expertise at Deeside. Toyota’s importance to the Welsh economy is recognised by its Anchor Company status and I am pleased the Welsh Government is supporting this latest investment on site.”

The new hybrid engine will be built at Deeside alongside current production of petrol and hybrid petrol units for the Auris range, manufactured by TMUK at Burnaston in Derbyshire.

New Toyota C-HR Concept

Toyota’s new crossover model is being developed from the C-HR concept car unveiled last year at the Frankfurt motor show. The car will be built at Toyota’s factory in Turkey.