Overview

• Toyota will invest about $56 million to establish a GR Corolla production line at its Burnaston plant, aiming to produce 10,000 units annually for North America starting in mid-2026.
• The move reallocates some GR Corolla manufacturing from Toyota’s Motomachi plant in Japan, which is at full capacity, to make use of underused UK facilities.
• Burnaston, operational since 1992 and already building the Corolla hatchback, will receive temporary Japanese engineering teams to transfer production expertise.
• A recent US-UK trade agreement cuts tariffs on British car imports to 10% for up to 100,000 vehicles a year, enhancing the economics of UK-based exports.
• Toyota’s decision is not a direct response to US tariffs on Japanese imports, and Japan continues to seek repeal of a 25% levy on its car exports to the United States.