Toyota is celebrating the delivery of its 20 millionth vehicle in Europe, a landmark reached just 10 years after recording its 10 millionth sale here.
In 1963 Toyota entered the European market in a modest way, supplying 190 Crown models to a distributor in Denmark. Today it is one of Europe's leading auto manufacturers, with nine production plants across the continent, building vehicles, engines and transmissions, together with research and development, and design and training centres. Toyota's investment in its European operations stands at €1.2 billion and it employs 3,000 people.
Its European production programme began in 1992 in Britian with the opening of the Burnaston car plant and the engine factory at Deeside in north Wales. Britain remains a strong market for Toyota and, since sales began in 1965, more than 2.7 million vehicles have been sold. Investment has continued, most recently with Burnaston selected as the production centre for Auris hybrid, which uses a petrol engine manufactured at Deeside.
The car that took Toyota past its latest milestone was a dark blue Toyota Verso 2.0 D-4D, built at the Adapazari factory in Turkey.
Special offers
Toyota Ireland offers a total saving of up to €4,000 after scrappage on a wide range of passenger vehicles.
Any customers who purchase before January 3, 2011, will automatically get three-years free servicing, in addition to three-years warranty and three-years roadside assistance.
