Toyota Manufacturing UK celebrates 25th anniversary of manufacturing at Burnaston site
Today Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) celebrates 25 years of building cars at its plant in Derbyshire. To commemorate this special occasion, invited guests joined staff at the factory for a journey back through the years and heard about £25,000 worth of surprise donations to local charities.
It was 16th December 1992 when the first Carina E drove off the production line at Toyota Manufacturing UK. On that day, only 4 cars were built. Since then, the automotive giant has built almost 4.2 million more from the Derby based site.
Marvin Cooke, Managing Director of TMUK said: “We have only been able to reach this milestone by being competitive – that means achieving quality, productivity, flexibility and cost at global levels - and we will not stand still, we will always strive to be more competitive. Toyota is determined to be here for the long term.”
Over the 25 years, the plant has attracted continual investment. In 2010 TMUK Burnaston was the first Toyota plant outside Japan to build hybrid vehicles, which now make up 60% of output. Earlier this year a further £240 million was announced, upgrading the factory to enable production of the next generation of cars.
To celebrate this momentous quarter century event, TMUK were joined by invited guests, including Rt. Hon. Sir Patrick McLoughlin MP, and Heather Wheeler MP. They were also joined by Toyota Motor Europe, Senior Vice President, Andy Pfeiffenberger.
Marvin warmly thanked the local community for their support saying: “I am aware of the huge contribution that the local community has made to TMUK. Without the support of our local authorities, local Government leaders, our local colleges, our suppliers and many local partners, and of course our members, we could not have achieved all that we have”.
Tony Walker, Deputy Managing Director, went on to say: “Toyota does not exist purely to make cars and return a profit. We exist to make a full contribution to the societies in which we operate. In these past 25 years we have donated over £5.5 million to local charities and organisations”.
In recognition of today’s milestone, representatives from the factory and Charitable Trust surprised 12 local organisations with a share of £25,000, helping them to do more of their excellent work.
Umbrella based in Mackworth, Derby, who provide support for children and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities and their families, received £2500. Ann Rowlands, CEO of Umbrella said “This wonderful surprise donation from Toyota means so much to Umbrella. We have been fundraising to convert a piece of adjoining land into a safe space car park for the children and young people to access Umbrella safely and this now means we are a huge leap closer to turning it into reality”.
Toyota Manufacturing UK: Building Cars, Building Opportunities.
Encl: video footage & photo.
For more information please contact Jean Sayers at Toyota Manufacturing UK on 01332 283609
Note to Editors
Toyota Manufacturing UK produces Avensis, Auris, Auris Touring Sport and Auris Hybrid models at its vehicle manufacturing plant at Burnaston, Derbyshire, and petrol and hybrid engines at its engine manufacturing plant at Deeside, North Wales. In 2016, TMUK produced 180,425 vehicles, 282,518 engines for export and local assembly at plants across the world. Toyota’s Derbyshire vehicle plant employs almost 2,500 members and represents an investment of over £1.75bn to date.
TMUK is also one of Toyota’s leading environmental plants, with zero waste to landfill or incineration, as well as working in partnership with Kew Gardens and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.
Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust (Reg. 1124678) was established in 2008 and is wholly funded by sharing of best practice via “Lean Approach” Seminars and employee fundraising. In 2016, over £305,000 was raised for charities in and around the factory sites in Burnaston, Derbyshire and Deeside, Flintshire.
Beneficiaries of £25,000 donation are:
Umbrella, Mackworth, Derby - £2500
Padley, Derby - £2500
Derbyshire Mind - £2500
Cruse Bereavement, Derby - £2500
Different Strokes, Swadlincote - £500
Treetops Hospice, Derbyshire - £2500
Bank House, Swadlincote - £2500
Maddy’s Smile, Derby - £2500
South Derbyshire CVS & Foodbank - £1000
Flintshire Foodbank - £1000
Maes Hyfryd - £2500
CAIS, Wrexham - £2500
