Toyota has had more than its fair share of problems in 2011, from the devastating March earthquake to the rising yen and the recent Thailand floods that have curtailed the brand’s production.
However, despite all these setbacks, the troubled Japanese carmaker still has a couple of reasons to celebrate these days. The first of course is the eagerly awaited FT-86 RWD coupe.
The second reason is that last Friday, October 28, the two millionth Yaris rolled off the Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF) plant in Valenciennes, France.
The president of TMMF, Makoto Sano, commented: “This important milestone was achieved thanks to the hard work and dedication of all of our members. With the arrival of the new Toyota Yaris, TMMF is entering a dynamic new era. The latest model offers a promising prospect for our plant in Valenciennes.”
The French plant is currently producing the recently launched third generation of Toyota’s best-selling model in Europe and from next year, it will also manufacture a hybrid HSD version of the Yaris.
The assembly plant employs 3,500 workers to which a further 800 will be added and represents a total investment of €1 billion (US $1.4 billion), including €150 million (US $212 million) for the brand-new Yaris.
