Toyota Manufacturing UK
Corporate brand
UnclaimedToyota's United Kingdom manufacturing subsidiary, operating vehicle production at Burnaston and engine manufacturing at Deeside.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Toyota Manufacturing UK, commonly abbreviated as TMUK, is Toyota Motor Corporation's British manufacturing subsidiary. Its operations consist principally of two production sites: a vehicle plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire and an engine plant at Deeside in North Wales. Together, the sites form one of Toyota's principal industrial bases in the United Kingdom, supporting vehicle assembly, engine production, component manufacture, exports and engineering-related activity. The company was established in 1989 as Toyota expanded its manufacturing presence in Europe. Construction of the Burnaston vehicle plant began in March 1990 on a site prepared after the demolition of Burnaston House. The plant took almost three years to complete. Engine production at Deeside began in September 1992, while the first vehicle assembled at Burnaston, a Toyota Carina E, left the line on 16 December 1992. The Burnaston site was formally opened by Prince Charles on 4 June 1993, several months after production had started. TMUK initially became associated with Toyota's European production of the Carina E and later the Avensis, Corolla and Auris. Its role broadened as Toyota used the British plants to manufacture vehicles and engines for markets outside the United Kingdom. For example, second-generation Avensis cars produced at Burnaston were exported to Japan in 2003, and Avensis exports to Japan resumed in 2011 after an eight-year gap. The company also developed experience in hybrid production when Toyota announced that the hybrid-powered Auris would be built at Burnaston from 2010. Burnaston's manufacturing processes include metal stamping, welding, painting, plastic moulding and final vehicle assembly. Deeside performs engine machining and assembly as well as aluminium casting. The production system is designed around Toyota's operating methods, with integrated material handling, standardized processes and a high degree of coordination between body, paint, powertrain and final assembly operations. At the plant's highest stated production rate, a completed vehicle can leave the line approximately every sixty seconds. The product portfolio changed substantially during the late 2010s. Diesel Auris production ended in December 2017, Avensis production ended in June 2018 after more than two decades, and the Auris programme also concluded around that period. Burnaston then became a production location for the Toyota Corolla E210. Toyota also announced production of the Suzuki Swace, a Toyota-produced version of Suzuki's hybrid estate car, with manufacturing beginning in 2020. The Swace programme ended in 2025 according to the referenced production record. The Toyota Corolla remains the central current vehicle line identified for the site, while production of the GR Corolla is listed as beginning in 2026. TMUK's operations have been affected by broader economic and industrial events. Vehicle production was suspended in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and restarted in May with operating measures in place. A further suspension occurred in December 2020 amid travel restrictions. In 2022, Toyota rejected reports that it intended to leave the United Kingdom after media coverage linked the company's future to government plans to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. The two sites employ more than 3,800 people according to the referenced description. In addition to manufacturing, TMUK participates in skills and education initiatives, including the Toyota Technology Challenge, a national engineering and technology competition for secondary schools organized with Rapid Electronics. The company therefore functions not only as a production business but also as a local industrial employer, exporter and contributor to Toyota's wider European manufacturing network.
History
Toyota Manufacturing UK was created in 1989 as Toyota established a direct manufacturing presence in Britain. The company's main vehicle site was developed at Burnaston in Derbyshire. Construction began in March 1990 after the site was cleared, including the demolition of Burnaston House. The project took almost three years to complete and was accompanied by the development of a separate engine manufacturing operation at Deeside in North Wales. Deeside began engine production in September 1992. At Burnaston, the first completed vehicle was a Toyota Carina E, which came off the production line on 16 December 1992. That vehicle was later preserved in the British Motor Museum. A second Carina E made at the plant subsequently accumulated 560,000 miles by November 2019, illustrating the long-term visibility of the early Burnaston production programme. The completed Burnaston factory was officially opened by Prince Charles on 4 June 1993. The early production period established TMUK as part of Toyota's European manufacturing network. Burnaston subsequently produced the Avensis, Corolla and Auris, while Deeside supported Toyota's powertrain requirements through engine machining, assembly and aluminium casting. The British operation was not limited to domestic supply. In July 2003, the first batch of second-generation Avensis vehicles made at Burnaston was exported to Japan through Southampton before the model's Far Eastern launch. In June 2011, Toyota announced that Avensis exports from the United Kingdom to Japan would resume for the first time in eight years. Toyota continued to invest in the sites as its model strategy evolved. In 2007, the company used the UK launch of the Auris to announce a £100 million Deeside investment intended to support petrol-engine production for the model. In 2008, Burnaston was selected to build the third-generation Avensis, and production began in November of that year. Toyota announced in 2009 that the hybrid Auris would also be built at the plant from 2010, giving TMUK experience with hybrid vehicle assembly. Production of the second-generation Auris began in November 2012. The late 2010s brought a significant transition in the vehicle portfolio. Diesel Auris production ended in December 2017 after nearly eleven years. Avensis production stopped in June 2018 after more than two decades, and the Auris programme also ended around that time. The change reflected the replacement of older model lines within Toyota's European range rather than the closure of the Burnaston operation. Toyota subsequently introduced production of the Suzuki Swace, announced in 2019 and started in 2020. The referenced production record identifies the Swace programme as ending in 2025. TMUK's manufacturing activity was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. New-car production stopped in March 2020 and resumed two months later with measures intended to allow the sites to operate during the public-health crisis. Production was suspended again in December 2020 amid travel restrictions. In 2022, Toyota denied reports that it planned to leave the United Kingdom after speculation connected the company's future to government policy accelerating the transition toward electric vehicles. Burnaston carries out stamping, welding, painting, plastic moulding and final assembly. Deeside carries out engine machining and assembly and produces aluminium castings. The two sites employ more than 3,800 people according to the referenced account. Toyota also links TMUK to education and skills development through the Toyota Technology Challenge, a national engineering and technology competition for secondary schools run in partnership with Rapid Electronics. The current production record identifies the Toyota Corolla E210 as a current Burnaston model and lists the GR Corolla as beginning production in 2026.
- 2026
GR Corolla production listed for Burnaston
[1]The referenced production record lists Toyota GR Corolla manufacturing at Burnaston from 2026.
- 2020
Suzuki Swace production starts
[1]Burnaston began manufacturing the Suzuki Swace after its production had been announced in 2019.
- 2018
Avensis and Auris programmes end
[1]Avensis production ended in June and the Auris programme concluded around the same period.
- 2017
Diesel Auris production ends
[1]The diesel Auris programme concluded after nearly eleven years.
- 2012
Second-generation Auris production begins
[1]Production of the second-generation Auris started at Burnaston in November.
- 2010
Hybrid Auris production begins
[1]Burnaston began production of the hybrid-powered Auris.
- 2007
Deeside investment announced
[1]Toyota announced a £100 million investment connected with petrol-engine production for the Auris.
- 2003
Avensis exports to Japan
[1]Second-generation Avensis vehicles produced at Burnaston were exported to Japan through Southampton.
- 1993
Burnaston officially opened
[1]Prince Charles formally opened the Burnaston factory on 4 June.
- 1992
Deeside and Burnaston begin production
[1]Deeside opened for engine manufacturing in September, and Burnaston produced its first car, a Carina E, in December.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
A high-volume Toyota manufacturing operation focused on efficient vehicle and engine production, UK industrial employment, export capability and integration with Toyota's European supply chain.
Passenger car · 1992
Toyota Carina E
The Carina E was the first vehicle produced at Burnaston. Its production marked TMUK's entry into volume vehicle assembly and established the Derbyshire factory as a Toyota production location in Europe. The first Burnaston-built example is preserved in the British Motor Museum.
Passenger car · 1997
Toyota Avensis
The Avensis became one of TMUK's longest-running vehicle programmes. Burnaston produced successive generations and supplied both European markets and Japan. Production of the model ended in June 2018 after more than twenty years at the plant.
Passenger car · 1997
Toyota Corolla
The Corolla has been one of the principal Toyota nameplates produced at Burnaston. The current production record identifies the Corolla E210 as a current model, placing the plant within Toyota's global Corolla manufacturing network.
Passenger car · 2006
Toyota Auris
The Auris was produced at Burnaston for approximately eleven years and included petrol, diesel and hybrid variants. Toyota supported the programme with Deeside engine investment and announced hybrid Auris production for the UK site from 2010. The Auris programme ended around 2018.
Hybrid estate car · 2020
Suzuki Swace
The Suzuki Swace was added to Burnaston's production portfolio after Toyota announced the programme in 2019. Manufacturing began in 2020. It represented a production relationship between Toyota and Suzuki and broadened the range assembled at the Derbyshire site beyond Toyota-badged vehicles.
Performance passenger car · 2026
Toyota GR Corolla
The GR Corolla is listed in the referenced production record as entering TMUK production from 2026. It represents a performance-oriented extension of the Corolla nameplate within the site's future model portfolio.
Automotive powertrain · 1992
Toyota engines
The Deeside operation manufactures Toyota engines through machining and assembly processes and also carries out aluminium casting. Its output has supported vehicles produced in the United Kingdom and Toyota's wider manufacturing network.
Marketing campaigns
- Toyota Technology Challenge
United Kingdom
TMUK organizes the Toyota Technology Challenge with Rapid Electronics. The national competition is aimed at secondary schools and promotes engineering, technology and practical problem-solving.
Outcome. The competition supports technology education and helps connect TMUK with UK schools and potential future engineering talent.
Brand decisions
2022
Reaffirmation of UK manufacturing presenceStrategyBackground
Reports suggested Toyota might withdraw from the United Kingdom in response to government plans to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.
Action taken
Toyota denied that it planned to leave the UK.
Aftermath
The denial indicated that Toyota continued to regard its UK manufacturing presence as part of its strategy, although the referenced material does not specify later investment or model decisions.
2020
Pandemic production responseOtherBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic created public-health and travel restrictions affecting automotive manufacturing and workforce operations.
Action taken
TMUK suspended vehicle production in March, resumed in May with operating measures, and suspended production again in December.
Aftermath
The sites experienced temporary interruptions while adapting production to pandemic conditions.
2019
Suzuki Swace production decisionProduct launchBackground
Toyota and Suzuki were expanding their industrial cooperation and required a UK production location for the Swace.
Action taken
Toyota announced that the Suzuki Swace would be manufactured at Burnaston, with production beginning in 2020.
Aftermath
The Swace became a new model in TMUK's production portfolio before its listed production end in 2025.
2009
Hybrid Auris production decisionProduct launchBackground
Toyota was expanding hybrid production within its European manufacturing network.
Action taken
The company announced that Burnaston would manufacture the hybrid-powered Auris from 2010.
Aftermath
TMUK added hybrid vehicle assembly to its manufacturing capabilities.
2007
Investment in Deeside engine productionStrategyBackground
Toyota was preparing the Auris for the UK market and planned to increase the British manufacturing operation's powertrain role.
Action taken
TMUK announced a £100 million investment at Deeside to build the Auris petrol engine.
Aftermath
The investment reinforced Deeside's role in Toyota's UK production system and supported the Auris programme.
announced investment. £100 million (2007 announcement)
Recent events
- 2022
Toyota denies plans to leave the United Kingdom[1]
Regulation
Toyota rejected reports that it might withdraw from the United Kingdom after coverage linked its future there to government plans for a faster transition to electric vehicles.
- 2020
COVID-19-related production suspensions[1]
Other · Regulation
TMUK suspended new-car production in March 2020 during the global pandemic, restarted in May with protective operating measures, and suspended production again in December amid travel restrictions.
- 2019
Suzuki Swace production announced for Burnaston[1]
Product launch · M&A
Toyota announced that the Suzuki Swace would be manufactured at Burnaston, with production starting the following year.
- 2018
Avensis and Auris production programmes conclude[1]
Product generation · Other
TMUK ended Avensis production in June after more than twenty years and also concluded the Burnaston Auris programme around the same period.
- 2017
Diesel Auris production ends at Burnaston[1]
Product generation · Other
Production of the diesel-powered Auris ended in December after almost eleven years at the Derbyshire plant.
- 2009
Hybrid Auris production announced[1]
Product launch
TMUK announced that Burnaston would produce the hybrid-powered Auris from 2010, extending the site's role beyond conventional petrol and diesel vehicle assembly.
- 2008
Avensis production reaches third generation[1]
Product generation · Product launch
Toyota selected Burnaston to build the third-generation Avensis, with production beginning in November 2008.
- 2007
Toyota announces investment for Auris engine production at Deeside[1]
Product launch · Other
During the UK launch period for the Auris, Toyota announced a £100 million investment in Deeside to support production of the model's petrol engine.
- 1993
Burnaston plant opens after beginning vehicle production[1]
Other
Toyota's Burnaston vehicle factory was formally opened on 4 June 1993 by Prince Charles, following the start of production in December 1992.
Sources1 sources
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