Toyota investing in Deeside Engine Plant for next generation hybrid electric powertrains

Toyota is pumping nearly half a million pounds into its Deeside engine plant to kick off European production of its fifth generation hybrid electric powertrain.

Toyota Manufacturing UK’s (TMUK) Deeside Industrial Estate factory is benefiting from a £465,000 upgrade to the assembly line for the 1.8-litre petrol engine featured in the new system.

The latest development of Toyota’s hybrid technology will debut in 2023 in a new Corolla range, including Hatchback and Touring Sports models built by the Toyota factory at Burnaston in Derbyshire.

The fifth generation powertrain uses lighter, more compact electric motors and, thanks to improved engine calibration, produces more power and improved performance and drivability.

Toyota is also investing £70 million in Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland (TMMP), the European centre for production of the hybrid electric transmission, including motor-generators and electrical components.

The new generation technology replaces the fourth generation hybrid electric system produced by TMUK and TMMP since 2016 and 2018 respectively.

During this time, Toyota has accelerated its investment in hybrid technology and seen the overall electrified mix in its total European new car sales increase from 30 to 66 per cent.

Marvin Cooke, Toyota Motor Europe Executive Vice President for Manufacturing, said: “Toyota’s affordable, low emission hybrid electrified vehicles have an important role to play in our pan-European multi-technology strategy, which seeks to help everyone reduce their carbon emissions.”

“Hybrid technology now features in 85 and 70 per cent respectively of the engines and transmissions produced at TMUK and TMMP, which is a reflection of the ever-growing customer demand for Toyota hybrid products.”