As the Auris hybrid goes into to production this month, the carmaker has released more details on the first mass-produced hybrid car to be built in Europe.
With the July 1 on sale date fast approaching, Toyota explains how it has prepared for the production of the new full hybrid model at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire and the manufacturer of the engine for the model at its Deeside plant in North Wales. The carmaker says that key challenges had to be met in preparing for production of the new model with these achieved in what was the shortest lead-time yet for any European-built model.
Although Auris Hybrid is a development of the conventional five-door model already produced at Burnaston, its introduction has required extensive training, new ways of working, new parts, alterations to the production lines major changes to testing procedures. Not the least of the challenges was the fact that although it is built on the same production line as petrol and diesel Auris models, the hybrid takes 11 minutes longer to complete, calling for clever integration of new equipment and specialist team members to ensure no bottlenecks occur.
Tony Walker, Deputy Managing Director at TMUK (Toyota Manufacturing UK): “Auris Hybrid provides a great opportunity for Toyota to increase sales and for TMUK to increase production. Being the first to manufacture this new technology is a source of immense motivation for everyone here at TMUK.”
The entire workforce at Burnaston received special safety and technical training in order to deal of hybrid vehicle manufacturing. The training also included a specially developed Diploma in Hybrid vehicle Introduction and Environmental Improvement that has been officially recognised as Level 2 NVQ.
Management and representatives of the assembly and quality assurance teams have learned best practice from their colleagues around the world, travelling to the Tsutsumi “mother” factory in Japan, home of Prius, and to Toyota’s plant in Kentucky where the hybrid Camry is built. In turn they have been able to provide focused training for their colleagues in readiness for production start-up.
Burnaston was the first car plant in the UK to achieve ISO 14001 certification and has reduced waste to landfill and waste for incineration to zero.
The new Auris Hybrid has CO2 emissions from 89g/km and achieves 74.3mpg on a combined cycle. The new model will go on sale in the UK and across Europe on 1 July.
