Toyota and Suzuki have agreed a new co-operation in Europe.
Toyota will supply Suzuki with its electrified platforms, a version of the Corolla wagon (estate ) that will be built at Toyota's British factory, while Toyota's engine factory in Deeside, Wales, will produce the engines for this model. And there will also be a version of the RAV4 hybrid (SUV ) imported directly from Japan.
In return, Toyota will adopt newly developed Suzuki petrol engines for compact vehicles. Such engines are to be supported by Denso and Toyota, and will be manufactured at Toyota’s manufacturing in Poland. Toyota’s engineers and designers had input into the development of these Suzuki engines.
This part of the deal would also improve job security should a hard Brexit bring tariffs between Britain and the EU. Toyota employs more than 3,200 people at its two plants, and recently invested £240 million to upgrade the Derbyshire plant to manufacture the new Corolla hatchback and wagon.
From Suzuki’s side, the two new models will help to lower its CO2 emissions in Europe to comply with tougher reduction targets coming into force starting in 2020.
