Toyota Manufacturing UK

Toyota's UK manufacturing company, building cars at Burnaston in Derbyshire and engines at Deeside in North Wales.

About Toyota Manufacturing UK

Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK), usually shortened to TMUK, makes Toyota vehicles and engines in Britain. Its main car plant is at Burnaston, near Derby, and its engine factory is at Deeside in North Wales. The company's own description says it manufactures the Toyota Corolla and its 1.8 litre engine, and it also customises and accessorises new cars and refurbishes used cars for resale through the Toyota network.

The company dates from 1989. Construction at Burnaston began in 1990, the first car, a Carina E, came off the line on 16 December 1992 and the plant was officially opened in June 1993. The Deeside engine factory opened in September 1992. Over the years Burnaston has built the Carina E, Avensis, Corolla and Auris, including hybrid versions of the Auris from 2010, and the Suzuki Swace from 2020 to 2025. The Avensis ran from 1997 to 2018 and the Auris from 2006 to 2018, so the plant has changed its products several times as the market moved. At Deeside the engine work includes petrol engines for the Auris and aluminium casting and machining. We did not find a written mission statement for TMUK itself, so we do not quote one.

TMUK describes itself as part of "One Toyota", the wider Toyota group in the UK. The company reports about 3,000 employees on its own site, and another source gives more than 3,800 across both factories, so the exact headcount is unclear. The Toyota (GB) PLC registered office is at Burgh Heath near Epsom in Surrey, which shows that the group has a sales and support side as well as factories.

One unusual detail is that a small TMUK team also helps outside businesses improve their own operations, using the company's lean production method, known as the Toyota Production System. That method is about reducing waste and solving problems as a team, and it shows that the company values process knowledge as well as hands-on building skills. The company also tells its own story through its Toyota UK magazine, which includes a series called 25 Objects marking TMUK's history, and a short Business Summary and film for visitors who want an overview.

For someone interested in the industry, TMUK is a good example of a large manufacturer with two very different sites. Roles in a business like this include production, engineering, engine machining and casting, quality, logistics and the customisation work done on finished vehicles. The TMUK pages on the Toyota UK magazine site are the best place to see what the company says about itself today.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Corolla production at Burnaston, Derbyshire.', 'title': 'Car manufacturing'}
• {'desc': 'Petrol engines and aluminium casting at Deeside, North Wales.', 'title': 'Engine manufacturing'}
• {'desc': 'Accessorising new cars and refurbishing used cars for resale.', 'title': 'Vehicle customisation and refurbishment'}
• {'desc': 'A small team shares the Toyota Production System with other businesses.', 'title': 'Lean consulting'}

Key facts

• Company founded 1989; Burnaston car plant and Deeside engine plant
• First Burnaston car (Carina E) built 16 December 1992
• Part of "One Toyota"; Toyota (GB) PLC registered office in Epsom area, Surrey
• Employee count reported as about 3,000 (company) or 3,800+ (Wikipedia)

Website: www.toyota.co.uk