Toyota Increases Production in the U.K. to Address GR Corolla Demand
Toyota Expands GR Corolla Production in the U.K.
Toyota Motor Europe is set to invest $56 million in expanding its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire, UK, to produce the 2026 Toyota GR Corolla locally. This move comes in response to the growing demand for the high-performance GR Corolla, particularly in North America.
The GR Corolla is the fastest-expanding model within the Toyota group and has garnered huge interest in its high-performance internal-combustion-engine vehicles. The GR range includes the GR Corolla, GR Supra, and GR Yaris.
The decision to invest in the U.K. plant was made due to the country's rich heritage in developing racing and sports cars. With an established base of expertise and specialist supply chains, the U.K. provides an ideal location for the production of the GR Corolla. The Burnaston plant, which already produces Corolla estate and hybrid models for the European market, offers an efficient scale-up for the GR Corolla production targeted at the global market, including North America and Europe.
The U.K. plant may produce up to 10,000 GR Corollas annually for export to North America. This production expansion is significant as rumours emerged last week that Toyota's Japanese dedicated GR production line was struggling to meet demand in North America.
Toyota Motor Europe's president and CEO, Yoshihiro Nakata, expressed appreciation for the U.K.'s historical support and recognition. He stated that the company aims to continue contributing to U.K. society as a 'Best in Town' company.
Engineers will be temporarily dispatched from Japan to share production technology and other expertise with the U.K. team. This collaboration will ensure the highest quality standards are met for the production of the GR Corolla.
The racing program, Gazoo Racing, was created in 2009 by Akio Toyoda, a former car racer. The racing program has earned a loyal following from race fans, further fueling the demand for the GR Corolla.
The U.K.'s 10% tariff on vehicle imports negotiated with the U.S. is expected to help keep the price of the GR Corolla down to meet growing demand from American consumers. The cap placed on U.K. imports into the U.S. under the new agreement is 100,000 units annually, which may be exceeded by the nation's automakers in 2024.
Preparations for the expansion of GR Corolla production at Toyota's U.K. plant have been underway since 2024. Toyota Motor Manufacturing U.K. and key suppliers were first informed about the project. The first GR Corolla vehicle scheduled for production is in 2026.
With the expansion of the GR Corolla production at its U.K. plant, Toyota is reinforcing its commitment to the U.K. market and demonstrating its confidence in the country's capabilities in the automotive industry.
The investment in Toyota's Burnaston plant in the U.K. will not only boost the local supply chain for the automotive industry but also help finance the production of the high-performance GR Corolla for the global market, particularly North America. The decision to produce the GR Corolla in the U.K. was made due to the country's expertise in the transportation sector, specifically in developing racing and sports cars.
