Toyota in Europe

Since the early 1960’s Toyota’s presence in Europe has grown and changed, keeping pace with the changing vehicle tastes and requirements of the European public.

Toyota first began selling cars in Europe under an official distributor agreement in 1963. Since then, the company has matured into the leading Japanese car manufacturer in this highly competitive market. Toyota has invested over 9 billion euros throughout Europe since 1990 and currently employs approximately 20,000 people across Europe. This has created thousands of jobs, not just for our business, but for our network of more than 400 European supplier businesses as well. Toyota’s operation in Europe is supported by a network of 29 National Marketing and Sales Companies representing 53 countries, over 3,000 Toyota and Lexus authorised dealers and nine manufacturing plants in seven countries. As an important player in Europe, Toyota continues to grow, both geographically and in terms of market share – with the goal of putting its customers first.

An expanding network and family, Toyota believes in a policy of localisation, adapting its vehicles to meet the specific needs of Europe’s varied customers. This means the company’s operations in Europe – be they manufacturing, research and development or marketing – are generally located within the continent to serve the local market.

The first Toyota vehicles to be made in Europe were produced under licence in Portugal in 1971. In 1992, Toyota began full production of cars and engines in the UK with the introduction of the Carina E. A new Toyota facility in France began producing the Yaris in 2001. In April 2002, Toyota opened a new plant in Poland to build transmissions.

Also in 2002, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey (TMMT), located in Adapazari, established itself as a major strategic manufacturing centre for Corolla vehicles, which are exported to European countries and beyond. Toyota’s diesel engine plant in Jelcz-Laskowice, Poland, began operations in 2005, as did the vehicle manufacturing plant in Kolin, Czech Republic, which is a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and PSA Peugeot Citroën.  In 2016, TMMT started production of the C-HR Crossover and it was in that same year that Toyota produced its 10 millionth car in Europe.

All of Toyota’s best-selling European models – AYGO, Yaris, Corolla and the C-HR Crossover – are built in Europe. In fact, around two-thirds of Toyotas sold in Europe are made in Europe by Europeans.