World best-seller Toyota Corolla to be produced again in Turkey

TMMT today held an official ceremony to mark the start of production of the 11th generation Corolla at its manufacturing plant in Sakarya. The new generation Corolla line-off ceremony was attended by Zafer Cağlayan, Economy Minister and Nihat Ergun, Industry, Science and Technology Minister of the Turkish Government, Kiyoshi Araki, Ambassador of Japan in Turkey, local authorities, suppliers and key Toyota Executives, among which Takeshi Uchiyamada Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Chairman and Takeshi Numa Toyota Motor Europe (TME) Executive Vice President. 

Speaking at the ceremony Takeshi Uchiyamada said: "The new Corolla, which has been reborn with styling that is more refined and more luxurious, is the new global symbol for our efforts to make "ever-better cars". I am very proud that the European version of the new Corolla will call Sakarya its home. From here, let us continue to write the Corolla's history."

Didier Leroy, President and CEO of TME, with the opportunity of the event, commented: "With the start of production of the new Corolla at TMMT, our product offer in the essential compact segment has been fully renewed in the past year. With this important milestone, we are definitely on the right path to achieve our target of sustainable growth this year but also in the future in Europe."

Orhan Özer, President and CEO of TMMT, said: "Today I am very pleased that we re-started to produce new generation Corolla, a milestone in Turkish automotive history. Today's achievement has been made possible thanks to the joint efforts of our employees, suppliers and business partners. I would like to thank all those involved for their hard work and dedication and on this occasion I express my gratitude to TMC and TME".

The new Toyota Corolla made in Turkey is the European version of the 11th generation of the iconic Toyota model. It has been created to satisfy a wide range of global customer needs. It features an advanced, more contemporary design, improved roominess, comfort, practicality and user-friendliness unrivalled fuel economy, improved driving dynamics and enhanced safety features.

Above all, the new Corolla builds on the model's legendary Quality Durability and Reliability with significantly enhanced quality in every aspect of its design and engineering, whilst still representing impressive value for money in every market around the world.

In 2014, total production of TMMT will reach 150,000 units, its full capacity. Already this year, more than eighty-five per cent of the production will be exported to European markets, Russia, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asian countries. A Euro 150 million investment was made for the Corolla project at the plant, bringing total investment at TMMT to Euro 1.4 billion.

Starting from 2014, TMMT will reach full capacity utilization thanks to Corolla and Verso production. Some 900 new employees were hired for the Corolla project.

In 1994, TMMT started to its production operations in Sakarya with the 7th generation Corolla. Production of Corolla continued with the 8th and 9th generations of the model until the end of 2006.

Another model, the Verso, joined the production line in 2004. From 2007 to 2012, TMMT produced the Toyota Auris hatchback, discontinuing production of the Corolla sedan. In line with Toyota's pan-European optimisation and localisation strategy of C segment production in Europe, production of Auris was consolidated at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK at the end of 2012, making room for the reintroduction of the Corolla sedan at TMMT. This move allows both plants to operate at full capacity.