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News of  June 13, 2001

Toyota Holds Official Opening Ceremony for French Plant

- Prime Minister Jospin on Hand as Production Increase Announced -

Toyota Yaris

Photo: Toyota

Tokyo - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) said that it held an opening ceremony on June 6 for Toyota Motor Manufacturing France S.A.S. (TMMF), its vehicle-manufacturing base in France. The on-site event, attended by French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and other distinguished guests, was highlighted by an announcement that TMMF’s annual production capacity for the Yaris small car would be increased to 180,000 units at the beginning of 2003.

Established in October 1998, TMMF, in Valenciennes, Nord Prefecture, has been producing the Yaris compact (known as the Vitz in Japan) since January 31 of this year. The opening ceremony (which started at 3:20 p.m. local time, or 10:20 p.m. Japan time) marked the plant’s official inauguration following the recent completion of its related facilities.

The 2003 increase to 180,000 units in annual production capacity was announced by TMC President Fujio Cho, who said the decision was based on the encouraging sales performance of the Yaris in Europe and on "the fine efforts of TMMF employees, who have contributed greatly to getting TMMF off to a bright start." The figure marks a 20% increase over the originally planned 150,000-unit capacity set to be reached in mid-2002, when TMMF, with a then roughly 2,000 workers, starts producing 1.3-liter gasoline-powered Yaris vehicles in addition to the current 1.0-liter models. (TMMF presently employs about 1,600 French workers). The added capacity could create about 400 market-dependent jobs at TMMF. As a step toward higher production, the plant is to switch from one shift to two this summer.

In order to respond flexibly to customer demand, TMMF also plans to assume assembly of Yaris gasoline engines from mid-2002 and of 1.4-liter diesel engines for the Yaris at the beginning of 2003. Additional investment for the engine assembly process has been set at around 3 billion yen. 

In addition to Prime Minister Jospin, the ceremony’s approximately 500 guests and other related people included Employment Minister Elisabeth Guigou and Industry Minister Christian Pierret; Japan’s Ambassador to France Kazuo Ogura; the regional governor, the leader of the regional assembly and the city mayor; representatives of construction firms, suppliers and distributors; and Toyota representatives.

In commemoration of TMMF’s opening, TMC also announced it will make a social contribution of 1 million francs (15 million yen) toward public park maintenance over three years through the Foundation of France, a public-benefit organization.

Outline of TMMF 

• Name: Toyota Motor Manufacturing France S.A.S. 

• Location: Activity Park of the South Escaut Valley, Valenciennes, Nord Prefecture

• Establishment: October 1998

• President: Hiroaki Watanabe

• Capitalization: 1.7 billion francs (260 million euro = approximately 28 billion yen)

• Equity stake: 100% by TMEM "Toyota Motor Europe Manufacturing"

• Total investment: Approximately 4.0 billion francs (approximately 80 billion yen, based on the exchange rate of 1 franc = 20 yen at the time of the site-selection announcement in 1997)

• Site area: Approximately 230 hectares 

• Production start: January 2001

• Production model: Vehicle:  1.0-liter Yaris (gasoline)   1.3-liter Yaris (gasoline) (from mid-2002)  1.4-liter Yaris (diesel) (from the beginning of 2003)Engine assembly:  Gasoline engines (from mid-2002; transferred from TMUK)  Diesel engines (from the beginning of 2003; transferred from TMC)

• Production capacity: 150,000 units a year (in mid-2002), rising to 180,000 (at the beginning of 2003)

• No. of employees: Currently 1,600; scheduled to rise to approximately 2,000 when capacity reaches 150,000 units in mid-2002. (The 180,000-unit capacity level announced on June 6, 2001, could create about 400 market-dependent jobs.)

(June 07, 2001)

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