Toyota will add a second shift at its vehicle production facility in St. Petersburg, Russia, starting from this September and for this reason, it has hired 600 new workers, which bring the total headcount to 1,750 employees.

The Japanese company began production of the Camry in Russia in November 2011 with sales of the mid-size sedan having surged 66 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of this year, while overall, Toyota recorded a 22 per cent increase to 32,859 units during the same period.

“Starting two-shift operations is a significant event for our plant,” said Toyota Motor Manufacturing Russia (TMMR) President Yoshinori Matsunaga. “Our employees’ commitment to Toyota principles in quality has resulted in us gaining Russian consumer trust and high evaluations for our Camry. It makes us at TMMR glad to be able to contribute to the economy of St. Petersburg and to its employment.”

The automaker said that it plans to increase localization in Russia by adding stamping and resin-moulding processes to its production during 2014.

PHOTO GALLERY