Toyota has followed in the footsteps of Nissan by pledging to retain its manufacturing future in the United Kingdom (UK), with a new £240million investment at its facility in Burnaston in Derbyshire.
The Japanese carmaker confirmed that the new cash injection also includes £21.3million support from the UK Government which will be used for training, research and development and honing the facility’s ‘environmental performance’.
President and Chief Executive Officer of European operations at the manufacturer, Dr Johan van Zyl, said the investment was “a sign of confidence in our employees and suppliers and their focus on superior quality and greater efficiency” but also warned that success would be determined by the nation’s upcoming Brexit negotiations.
The Buranston plant in Derbyshire will be upgraded with new equipment from this year.
The £240million will fund new equipment, technologies and systems at the Burnaston facility to enable it to produce the latest Toyota models for the global market.
The revamp will take place from this year and will mean the plant can manufacture vehicles on Toyota’s new TNGA platform, which already underpins models like the latest four-generation Prius and C-HR crossover.
By 2020, the carmaker said the ‘majority’ of its cars will be built on this platform – some of which are in Britain.
But the confirmation of the investment was still tainted with some uncertainty about the UK’s negotiations to exit from the EU.
Dr van Zyl added that the Japanese brand was showing a commitment to the UK-based facility, but warned that the country’s ability to secure access to the open market was fundamental to success.
He said: “We are very focused on securing the global competitiveness of our European plants. The roll-out of TNGA manufacturing capability is part of this plan. Our investment demonstrates that, as a company, we are doing all we can to raise the competitiveness of our Burnaston plant in Derbyshire.
“Continued tariff-and-barrier free market access between the UK and Europe that is predictable and uncomplicated will be vital for future success.”
The plant will receive new machinery and systems to allow it to build upcoming models on the latest Toyota platform
The facility is already the home to the Auris hatchback and Avensis family car
Currently, Toyota builds the Auris hatchback and Avensis family car at the plant in Derbyshire.
Toyota said that it could delay a decision on whether to build its next-generation Auris model in Britain to see the outcome of Theresa May’s negotiations to leave the European Union.
Tag: Toyota
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Toyota invests £240m in Britain
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Toyota to invest $600m in plant
Toyota Motors has announced a $600 million investment in its manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana, United States. The investment will be directed towards the expansion in production capacity of the plant and the retooling of the factory for the production of the next generation of its midsize Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) Highlander. Toyota sold 191,379 units of the midsize SUV in the U.S. auto market last year, a 20.4 per cent increase over 2015 sales. The plant expansion will add 40,000 more units of the vehicle to the production capacity. This announcement came against the background of a number of other auto makers announcing new investments in the U.S.
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Volkswagen overtakes Toyota
•German firm is world’s best-selling car maker
VOLKSWAGEN has overtaken Toyota to become the world’s best-selling carmaker, the first time the German company has held the position.
Japan’s Toyota, which had topped sales for the past four years, sold 10.175 million vehicles globally in 2016. That fell short of the 10.31 million sales which VW reported last week.
The milestone comes despite VW’s scandal over emission tests cheating, which sparked a global backlash and multiple lawsuits. A statenent from Volkswagen said: “2016 was a very challenging year for us.”
The company “made strides in resolving and overcoming the diesel crisis” and initiated fundamental change in the company’s long-term strategy, he said. “Nonetheless, we managed to stabilise operating business in difficult conditions: the fact that we handed over more than 10 million vehicles to customers last year bolsters the group and its brands as we head for the future,” he added.
Volkswagen, which makes the Audi, Porsche and Skoda brands, saw a 3.8 per cent increase in sales buoyed by demand in China. And it has been making inroads in other markets too. In Sweden for example, the Volkswagen Golf was the most popular new car in 2016.
Toyota’s sales grew by 0.2 per cent – though it appears to have suffered from a slowdown in the United States car industry. General Motors reports its figures next week, but it is expected to lag both the Japanese and the German firms. -
Toyota in record Takata recall
Toyota Motor Corporation has expanded its Takata airbag recall campaign following a landmark announcement earlier in the month by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) that added 35 million to 40 million inflators to the recall list. The recent expansion will see the replacement of all frontal airbag inflators manufactured by the Japanese part maker that do not use a moisture-absorbing desiccant.
Toyota will recall the Corolla and Matrix from the 2009 through 2011 model years, the Yaris from 2006 through 2011 model years, the 4Runner from 2010 and 2011 model years, and the 2011 Sienna minivan.
In addition, Toyota will recall the Scion xB from the 2008 through 2011 model years. Models from Lexus added to the list include the 2007 through 2011 model year ES sedans, the GX from 2010 and 2011, and the IS sedan from 2006 through 2011.
“The involved vehicles are equipped with a particular type of Takata inflator,” the automaker said in a statement. “According to Takata, a safety defect may arise in front passenger air bag inflators in the involved vehicles due to inflator propellant degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high temperature cycling. This may result in an inflator rupture when the air bag deploys.”
Two fatal accidents in Malaysia have been linked to Takata-made airbags, bringing the number of worldwide fatalities associated with the defective airbags to 13.
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Toyota opens engine plant in Brazil
The Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has said its new engine manufacturing facility in Brazil was now fully operational, nearly four years after it announced the investment.
Toyota committed in 2012 to build its first engine plant in Brazil, as it planned to boost local production on the grounds that the regional market was expected to consistently grow. And it did, but the country has recently entered into a serious economic crisis and the automotive industry has been deeply affected.
Nevertheless, Toyota has officially opened the new facility built on a plot of land that covers an area of 872,500 m2 in the city of Porto Feliz, following an investment of around 170 million dollars.
With a capacity to produce up to 108,000 units annually, the factory builds 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre four-cylinder engines that comes with Dual VVT-I and Flex Fuel ((in which ethanol is mixed in to the gasoline), power units specifically designed to fit in the newly updated Etios compact sedan and hatchback versions. This model is also built in Brazil, at Toyota’s Sorocaba plant, aimed specifically for the Latin American and Caribbean markets.
“Toyota remains committed to the growth of the Latin America region. We feel strongly about doing our part to help stimulate the region’s economy,” Steve St. Angelo, Toyota’s Chief Executive Officer for the region, said.
Toyota production in Brazil dates back to 1959 with a Complete Knock Down facility, company’s first manufacturing affiliate outside of Japan.
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Toyota, BMW, Hyundai in recall saga
Toyota Motor Corporation, Hyundai and BMW are recalling some of their models.
Toyota is recalling 60,000 Avalon and Camry sedans in North America because their front passenger air bags may not deploy in a crash.
Hyundai is recalling 173,000 Sonata sedans in the United States for power steering failure, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A recall is in effect for the BMW 7 Series, after supplier Continental AG informed the German automaker that a manufacturing defect could cause the luxury sedan’s airbag control module to fail.
Toyota’s involves Avalons and Camrys from the 2016 model year. Almost all were sold in the U.S.; about 1,500 were sold in Canada and Mexico.
Toyota said the cars have a system that activates or deactivates the front passenger air bags depending on the weight of the passenger. In some of the affected vehicles the system was improperly calibrated, so the front passenger air bags and knee air bags may not deploy.
Toyota said it’s unclear how many times the condition has occurred or whether it has been responsible for any injuries.
The 2011 Sonata has a circuit board inside the power steering system’s electronic control unit that may get damaged from corrosion or other weather-related effects. As a result, the power assist may fail and a warning lamp will appear on the instrument panel, although the driver probably would have already been aware of the increased steering effort. Hyundai said its supplier in South Korea, Mobis, had changed the protective coating on the circuit board in October 2010, after which these problems are said to have ceased. Hyundai first noticed the problem in March 2015 when it began analysing warranty claims for this part and tracked the claims up until January, when Mobis reviewed its records and determined the cause.
Dealers will replace the ECU starting in June. The 2011 Sonata, which was entirely redesigned that year, has been recalled nine times since its 2010 introduction, including for complete steering failures in which the intermediate shaft couplings could separate. In November and September 2015, Hyundai recalled the 2011 and 2012 Sonata for brake pedal defects and engine failures.
Continental AG notified BMW that an error in the manufacturing process, specifically unintended residue of metallic particles left over from stamping, could cause a short circuit and in turn a reset of the airbag control module. The residual metallic particles would need to be separated from the housing through excessive vibration or acceleration. The airbag light would go on, but the airbags would during this time be inactive.
The issue affects 6,110 vehicles in the U.S., all of which will be recalled and repaired with new airbag control modules free of charge. The dealer fix should take about four hours, and BMW will notify customers by mail in May. In addition to the recall, BMW has issued a stop-sale of all 2016 BMW 7 Series. These include the 740i, 750i, and 750i xDrive.
The BMW 7 Series starts at $82,295 including destination for the rear-drive 740i with a turbocharged straight six making 320 hp, and the model range extends all the way to the 750i xDrive which rings in at $98,395 with all-wheel drive and a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 good for 445 hp. For 2017 BMW adds some serious performance chops with the 600-hp Alpina B7 and the stately M760i xDrive with its 600-hp V-12.
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Toyota Highlander offers comfort ride
The 2016 Toyota Highlander is essentially not different from last year’s model. It, however, has minor upgrades, which include a standard towing package on all V6 models. The six-speed automatic transmission works well and provides quick downshifts in most situations, writes TAJUDEEN ADEBANJO.
The 2016 Toyota Highlander, which represents the third year of the model’s current generation, remains a top contender among family-friendly crossover Sports Utility Vehicle (SUVs). For buyers repelled by minivans or those, who do not need a V8-powered toy-hauling behemoth, the three-row Highlander hits the sweet spot, offering front or all-wheel-drive, a choice of four-cylinder or V6 engines, and five distinct trim levels, each with a successively longer list of features.
Regardless of trim level, the Highlander stands out by virtue of its spacious and comfortable cabin. Second-row seating is a choice of three-across bench seating or captain’s chairs with a side table. The refined V6 and smooth six-speed automatic transmission deliver effortless acceleration and make the Highlander one of the quickest big crossovers around. There are also plenty of contemporary tech tools and smartphone-integrated services, anchored by an eight-inch high-resolution touchscreen display in the higher trim levels.
For 2016, Toyota keeps the Highlander essentially unchanged. There is a new standard towing package that makes all V6 models capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds.
The Highlander packs enough goodness that has made it one of top picks for a three-row crossover this year. But it is not the only model worth checking out. The Highlander’s main rival, the Honda Pilot, is fully redesigned this year and is more upscale and carlike than in prior years. The Ford Explorer is also updated this year and offers a similar range of prices and features plus a strong turbocharged V6 option. There is also the handsome-looking Dodge Durango or the three-row Hyundai Santa Fe, the latter of which stacks up nicely against the Highlander across the board. All of them are competent family vehicles, but the Highlander certainly earns its well-deserved reputation for all-around goodness.
Body Styles
The 2016 Toyota Highlander is a three-row midsize crossover offered in LE, LE Plus, XLE, Limited and Limited Platinum trim levels. Eight-passenger seating is standard on the LE, LE Plus and XLE, while seven-passenger seating (featuring second-row captain’s chairs instead of a three-person bench) is optional on the XLE and standard on the Limited and Limited Platinum. Note that the related Highlander Hybrid is reviewed separately.
Powertrains
The base Highlander LE comes standard with front-wheel drive and a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 185 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The only transmission is a six-speed automatic. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 22 mpg combined (20 mpg city/25 mpg highway), which is barely better than the ratings for the stronger V6 engine.
That 3.5-liter V6 is optional on the LE and standard on all other trims. It is rated at 270 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque.
Safety
The 2016 Toyota Highlander comes standard with traction and stability control, antilock disc brakes, front seat side airbags, a driver knee airbag, a front passenger seat-cushion airbag and full-length side curtain airbags. A rearview camera is also standard.
The Limited trim gets a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, and its optional Driver Technology package (standard on Limited Platinum) adds a frontal collision warning and mitigation system (with automatic braking), lane-departure warning and Toyota’s Safety Connect telematics (emergency assistance, stolen-vehicle location and automatic collision notification). Unfortunately, these items are unavailable on lesser Highlander trims.
Interior design and special features
Hard plastics that were once the bane of the Highlander have since been supplanted by supple surfaces with fancy stitching at the seams. The gauge cluster has a contemporary look, thanks in part to the multifunction information display that sits in the middle. Although the base 6.1-inch central touchscreen is a bit basic in both form and function, the available 8-inch unit is more satisfying with its improved graphics and functionality.
Toyota has baked a number of handy storage features into the Highlander’s interior. There is a unique built-in shelf on the dashboard, for instance, that can serve as a resting place for phones and other small personal items. The shelf’s short height, however, can make it hard to fit your hand in there to place or retrieve those items. Vastly more spacious is the storage box under the console armrest that is big enough for a large purse.
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Toyota recalls three million SUVs over seatbelt problem
JAPANESE car manufacturer Toyota is going to recall almost three million of its cars worldwide after a potential weakness was discovered concerning the vehicle’s seatbelts.
The recall applies to RAV4 SUV models produced between July 2005 and August 2014.
There are 48,616 vehicles affected in the United Kingdom (UK).
The model – the RAV4 SUV – is being recalled due to a possible seatbelt problem.
While investigating a fatal crash in Canada in 2011, Canada’s transport ministry discovered that in a severe front-impact crash, the rear seatbelts could possibly be severed by metal parts of the seat frames.
According to Reuters, Toyota is aware of these findings, “while adding that it had not been able to confirm a connection with injuries or fatalities”.
Toyota RAV4 SUV owners in the UK will be contacted by Toyota by post or phone if their vehicle is affected.
It is not clear whether users of the product in Nigeria are affected as Toyota (Nigeria) Limited (TNL) is yet to make official statement regarding the recall.
In UK, owners will visit their local Toyota centre by appointment, where work will be undertaken to rectify the issue. Toyota will be adding resin covers to the metal seat cushion frame to counteract the problem at no cost to the customer. Toyota estimates that the work will take between 30 and 60 minutes to complete.
The recall will affect nearly three million vehicles globally: 1.3 million in the USA, 624,642 in Europe and 918,000 in the rest of the world.
If owners require additional information they can contact their local Toyota Centre or the recall helpline on 0800 876 6750. -
Toyota remains top-selling automaker
•Sells 10.15M vehicles
Toyota Motor Corporation has said it sold 10.151 million vehicles in 2015, retaining its status as the world’s top-selling automaker for the fourth straight year.
The sales figure compared with 2015 sales of 9.93 million vehicles for Volkswagen AG and 9.8 million for General Motors.
Toyota, which makes the Prius hybrid, Camry sedan and Lexus luxury models, has forecast sales at 10.114 million vehicles in 2016. Its actual sales in 2015 beat its forecast for sales of 10.098 million vehicles.
Volkswagen AG, which overtook Toyota in sales in the first half of the year, suffered in the second half from an emissions cheating scandal involving diesel cars.
Auto sales in major markets such as the U.S. and Japan have slowed, while emerging markets that had sustained growth in recent years, such as Thailand and Indonesia, have weakened.
In 2014, Toyota sold 10.23 million vehicles, Volkswagen sold 10.14 million vehicles, and General Motors was third at 9.92 million vehicles.
Detroit-based GM, which makes Cadillacs, Chevrolets, Buicks and Opels, was the top-selling automaker for more than seven decades until being surpassed by Toyota in 2008.
GM retook the sales crown for one year in 2011, when a tsunami and quake disaster struck Northeastern Japan, disrupting production.
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Toyota records $10.35b profit in six months
With revenue up by nine per cent and net profit up by almost 12 per cent from a year ago, Toyota Motor Corporation appears stronger than ever and poised to ‘take advantage of Volkswagen’s slump by trying to win VW customers.’
Toyota reported a half-year jump in profits last Thursday even as car sales declined in most regions, as it moves to cut costs and squeeze more productivity out of its plants worldwide.
The world’s top automaker said its net profit rose nearly 12 per cent to 1.258 trillion yen ($10.34 billion) in the fiscal first half through September, with a weak yen also helping boost the bottom line. The company’s revenue for the period rose almost nine per cent from a year ago to 14.09 trillion yen ($115.78 billion).
Toyota, however, sold slightly fewer cars globally at 4.98 million units, and trimmed its full fiscal year sales target.
North America stood out as the one key region where demand was strong, after rivals Honda and Nissan also cited the giant market as a bright spot that helped offset a sluggish Japanese market.
Japanese automakers have benefited from healthy growth seen in the U.S. market with low interest rates, although the Federal Reserve’s plans to raise rates, possibly next month could dent consumers’ appetite for new cars. Meanwhile, the weaker yen has made them relatively more competitive overseas and inflated the value of repatriated overseas profits.
Sales have been sluggish in their home market, however, after a sales tax rise last year dented consumer spending and as younger urban residents delayed buying a vehicle.
“The steady performance in North America is offsetting stagnant sales in emerging economies in Asia, especially Indonesia and Thailand,” said Yasuo Imanaka, analyst at Rakuten Securities. “The weak yen is also helping Toyota and other Japanese automakers generate profits.”
Toyota is locked in a neck-and-neck race with crisis-hit Volkswagen to again claim the title of world’s biggest automaker — a crown it has held for several years. The Japanese firm took a slight lead in the first nine months of 2015, as its German rival battles a huge emissions cheating scandal.