Toyota Auris will be built in the UK

Toyota has announced that the all-new Toyota Auris will be built in the UK at its vehicle manufacturing plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire.

Production of the Auris, the new C-Segment hatchback for Toyota, will begin in the new year and will go on sale to customers across Europe from Spring 2007. UK sales will begin from 1st February, 2007.

Designed and built in Europe, Auris demonstrates Toyota�s commitment to its European production operations. The new hatchback will be built alongside the Avensis at Toyota Manufacturing UK and also alongside the Corolla Verso at Toyota�s plant in Adapazari, Turkey.

The European production locations were confirmed today as Auris made its debut at the Bologna Motor Show.

Designed at Toyota�s European Design Development centre, ED2, in the south of France, Auris will join the highly successful Toyota Yaris and Avensis in helping Toyota to achieve its revised European sales target of 1.2 million units per year by 2008.

Hein Van Gerwen, Managing Director, Toyota Manufacturing UK said: �Auris represents a major step forward for the Toyota brand in Europe and is a crucial vehicle in the competitive C-segment.

�The award of this new model is further recognition of the skill and commitment of all our employees. We will now ensure that every Auris customer receives a superior quality vehicle they can be truly proud to own.�

The Rt. Hon Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, welcomed the announcement. He said: "This commitment is excellent news for the workforce and another show of confidence in the British car industry. It shows that the UK is a good place to invest and to manufacture."

Auris embodies the way forward for Toyota in Europe.

Breaking the mould of current C-segment hatchback design, it has an original and distinctive shape that is �short and tall�. Short because it maintains an overall length typical to this segment; tall to maximise interior space and passenger comfort.

Auris sets a new standard for interior design: stylish, spacious and sophisticated. The �inside-out� approach to the interior design means the car has been created around the driver to maximise interior space. The styling with unique design elements, such as the bridged centre console, creates a bold and distinctive environment.

The four grade model line-up will appeal to a broad spectrum of customers. From its launch, Auris will offer plenty of choice: three-door or five-door models with a range of engine and transmission options.