The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, officially launched the start of production of the all-new Auris Hybrid, during a visit to Toyota’s Burnaston Plant, Derbyshire on 28th June, 2010.

During his visit Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable will tour the production lines meeting with workers and management from Toyota’s UK and European operations, before witnessing the Auris HSD – Toyota’s first Hybrid model to be built in Europe - drive off the end of the production line to mark the official start of production of Toyota’s introduction of Hybrid technology into an existing C-segment car.

The event will be attended by an audience of over 300 employees and invited guests including, national and local government, local community, business partners and representatives from the media.

Speaking ahead of today’s celebrations, Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills stated: “Toyota’s decision to make Burnaston the only plant in the world to build the Hybrid Auris is a strong endorsement of the UK as a manufacturing base for the next generation of cars.”

“It is sending a signal to manufacturers that if you’re not in the UK, then you’re missing out on all the strengths and skills that the UK has to offer.”

Didier Leroy, President of Toyota Motor Europe, praised the quality and strength of its UK operations: “The UK has proved to be a valuable business partner. Building on almost 20 years of manufacturing experience, TMUK’s team members continue to deliver the quality, efficiency and flexibility needed to meet the exacting standards of our customers in Europe. A new chapter is opening today as Britain, a traditional origin of industrial innovation, becomes home to the manufacture of the first full hybrid vehicle for Europe.”

Mr Katsunori Kojima, Managing Director of Toyota Manufacturing UK added: “it is a proud day for Toyota Manufacturing UK as we celebrate the official start of production of the Auris Hybrid Synergy Drive, yet another premium quality model to be Built in Britain. To manufacture a world-class vehicle you need a world-class team and the commitment and dedication of our members has been crucial.

“As a model sustainable plant for Toyota in Europe we will truly be an eco plant with eco-minded people building eco cars.”

The new 5-door hatchback Auris HSD is equipped with the first and only full hybrid powertrain in the highly competitive C-Segment. Reflecting Toyota’s environmental lead in the drive towards sustainable mobility, Hybrid Synergy Drive serves as a core technology applicable to all future models.

The heritage of Hybrid Synergy Drive has its roots in the first generation Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, which was launched in Japan in 1997 and in Europe in 2000, establishing a major industry milestone in vehicle powertrain development and sustainable mobility. The launch of the Auris HSD is a major step in the deployment of Toyota’s full hybrid drive technology across the company’s entire model range by the early 2020s.

With class leading fuel economy the Auris HSD returns fuel consumption of only 74.3 mpg (combined cycle) and remarkably low highly tax-efficient CO2 emissions of just 89g/km. In addition, the Auris HSD generates significantly lower NOx and PM emissions than diesel engined cars of comparable performance.

The new Auris will be assembled at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s Burnaston Plant, in Derbyshire, while the Hybrid Synergy Drive system’s petrol engine will be built in Deeside, North Wales. Opened in 1992, Burnaston was Toyota’s first European plant and will now become the first plant to manufacture full hybrid vehicles in Europe. Auris HSD will be built in the same production line as petrol and diesel Auris, alongside Avensis.

Quality remains an absolute priority at TMUK and all production techniques were re-evaluated to maintain the highest standards in build quality, durability and reliability. New quality testing procedures are established at Deeside and Burnaston, covering areas specific to hybrid operation.

TMUK is a model sustainable plant for Toyota in Europe, which minimises the use of natural resources and exists in harmony with its natural environment. It is an eco plant with eco-minded people, building eco cars. This is part of the comprehensive 360° Sustainable Operations approach of Toyota, which is covering the whole vehicle Life Cycle: from design, through production, selling, driving and recycling of the vehicles.

TMUK represents a total investment of £1.85 billion and is one of nine Toyota manufacturing companies in Greater Europe. TMUK vehicle production passed the three million mark in June 2010.