New Toyota made in UK

Auris will be built here despite EU fears

TOYOTA has picked the UK to build a new model – despite MPs issuing a blunt Brexit warning for the industry.

The Japanese car giant yesterday announced the third generation of its Auris will be built at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire. Engines for the hatchback will mainly come from its Deeside factory in North Wales.

The move follows £240million of investment last year to upgrade the Burnaston site, including £20m from the Government.

The decision comes despite fears that Brexit will see foreign companies ditch car production here because of threatened import tariffs and disruption.

Dr Johan van Zyl, Toyota’s European boss, hailed the UK plants’ “skills and capabilities”.

But with 85% of Toyota’s UK-made cars sold to Europe, he warned “continued free and frictionless trade between the UK and Europe will be vital for future success.”

Toyota first began making cars at Burnaston in 1992 and employs 3,000 workers in the UK. Japanese car makers, including Toyota, last month warned they may have to leave the UK if trade barriers with Europe hammer profits. It comes as the Commons business select committee urged the Government to maintain the “closest possible relationship” with EU rules to give the UK car industry a “realistic chance of survival post-Brexit”.

Rachel Reeves, chair of the committee, said: “The car industry is one of the UK’s great manufacturing successes. Car plants provide thousands of jobs and the automotive sector is a major contributor to our economic growth.

“There is no credible argument to suggest there are advantages to be gained from Brexit for the UK car industry.”