Prime Minister Welcomes Toyota's Decision To Build New Hatchback In The UK

The Prime Minister has welcomed Toyota's decision to build the next generation of their Auris hatchback in the UK.

The Japanese manufacturer announced last week that it plans to invest more than £100 million in the European manufacturing industry within the next five years. In addition to the investment, the decision also means that more than 1500 jobs will created at the firm's Burnaston plant in Derbyshire over the next two years.

David Cameron said Toyota's decision should be seen as a massive vote of confidence to the UK car manufacturing industry.

'The British car industry is doing well and that's because of the quality of our workforce, the quality of our skills and the fact that Britain is a pro-manufacturing country that wants to succeed in this industry. This investment and the jobs it will create provide a terrific boost not just to the local economy but to the whole country, and is a tribute to the great skill, hard work and sheer professionalism shown by the Toyota workforce,' he commented.

In addition to its investment in the UK, Toyota also announced plans to manufacture a new compact saloon in Turkey. The firm will build the next compact sedan alongside the Toyota Verso, effectively creating 400 jobs at its plant in Sakarya over the next two years.

'Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey, which currently builds the Verso compact MPV and shares production of the Auris hatchback, will become its European centre for C-segment saloon production. These moves are designed to maximise production efficiency and increase local production of vehicles sold in Europe,' the manufacturer commented in a statement.