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Toyota Motor Europe (TME) is the regional headquarter of Toyota in Europe.
Company Overview
editToyota Motor Europe NV/SA (TME) oversees the wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, parts and accessories, and Toyota’s European manufacturing and engineering operations. Toyota directly and indirectly employs around 80,000 people in Europe and has invested over €7 billion since 1990. Toyota’s operations in Europe are supported by a network of 31 National Marketing and Sales Companies across 56 countries, a total of around 3,000 sales outlets, and nine manufacturing plants [1]In 2008, Toyota sold over 1.1 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Europe.[2]
The TME Head Office is located in Brussels - Belgium and houses key activities for Toyota and Lexus in Europe. It also acts as the nerve centre for all European operations including the principal areas of manufacturing & engineering and marketing & sales activities.
Supporting facilities
Established in 1987, the Toyota Technical Centre in Zaventem (Belgium) is home to Toyota Motor Europe’s Research & Development (R&D), Purchasing and Production Engineering activities. Early in 2006, Toyota inaugurated the expanded technical centre. In 2007 an additional 35,000 m² were added to house the expanded European design and engineering functions.
The Toyota Training Centre in Zaventem (Belgium) provides essential training to service instructors and engineers from all of Toyota’s European distributors.
Located in Derbyshire (UK) the European Global Production Centre is a hub for the teaching of best practices and training of production staff and supervisors from all over Europe.
Toyota's Accessory and Service Centre in Brussels (Belgium) houses after-sales, conversion and accessories activities. Functions include overall coordination of Toyota’s aftersales service operations, investigation of technical matters in the field, car body and paint training, accessories development and planning, as well as vehicle conversion.
Created in 2000 in Nice (France) Toyota Europe Design Development (ED²) concentrates on design concepts for the European market, including advanced design, design competition, production support for European models and design research information.
Conceived by international designer Ora-Ïto, Le Rendez- Vous Toyota provides visitors with a preview of Toyota’s vision of tomorrow. Situated in the heart of Paris, the European Brand Experience Centre translates Toyota’s core values – Quality, Design and Innovation – into five multimedia visitor “experience zones” that communicate a novel experience of the Toyota brand. The showroom is also a venue for internal and public events.
Manufacturing Centres
Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd.
Location: Burnaston, Derbyshire (UK)
Activities: Production of Auris and Avensis
Location: Deeside, North Wales
Activities: Production of 1.4-, 1.6- and 1.8-litre petrol engines
Toyota Motor Manufacturing France
Location: Valenciennes, France
Activities: Production of Yaris
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland Sp. z o.o.
Location: Walbrzych, Poland
Activities: Production of manual transmissions, multi-mode transmissions and 1.0-litre petrol engines
Toyota Motor Industries Poland Sp. z o.o.
Location: Jelcz-Laskowice, Poland
Activities: Production of 2.0- and 2.2-litre diesel engines
Toyota Caetano Portugal SA
Location: Ovar, Portugal
Activities: Production of Dyna and Hiace vehicles
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey
Location: Adapazari, Turkey
Activities: Production of Auris and Corolla Verso
Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech
Location: Kolin, Czech Republic
Activities: Production of Toyota AYGO, Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Russia
Location: St Petersburg, Russia
Activities: Production of Camry
Parts Logistics Centres
Toyota Parts Centre Europe - Diest, Belgium
Toyota Parts Centre South of France - Le Pouzin, France
Toyota Parts Centre Denmark - Middelfart, Denmark
Toyota Parts Centre Norway - Drammen Norway
Toyota Parts Centre Austria - Vienna, Austria
Toyota Parts Centre Finland - Vantaa, Finland
Toyota Parts Centre Spain - Madrid, Spain
Toyota Parts Centre Great Britain - Lutterworth, Britain
Toyota Parts Centre Deutschland - Köln, Germany
Toyota Parts Centre Ireland - Dublin, Ireland
Toyota Parts Centre Poland - Warsaw, Poland
Toyota Parts Centre Portugal - Porto, Portugal
Toyota Parts Centre Greece - Athens, Greece
Toyota Parts Centre Czech Republic - Krupka, Czech Republic
Vehicle Logistics Centres
Zeebrugge Vehicle Logistics Centre - Zeebrugge, Belgium
Grimsby and Derby Vehicle Logistics Centre - Grimsby and Derby, UK
Valenciennes Vehicle Logistics Centre - Valenciennes, France
Malmö Vehicle Logistics Centre - Malmö, Sweden
Hanko Vehicle Logistics Centre - Hanko, Finland
Adapazari Vehicle Logistics Centre - Adapazari, Turkey
Kolin Vehicle Logistics Centre - Kolin, Czech Republic
Paldiski Vehicle Logistics Centre - Paldiski, Estonia
Sagunto Vehicle Logistics Centre - Sagunto, Spain
Other facilities
Toyota Motorsport GmbH - Cologne, Germany
History
editTME first began selling cars in Europe under an official distributor agreement in 1963. Since then, the company has matured into the leading Japanese car manufacturer in this highly competitive market[4].
Philosophy
editToyota Production System
Toyota’s approach to automobile production, with its inherent quality controls, revolutionized the industry. Its “just-in-time” supply-chain concept has become a model for manufacturers around the world, and not just for automakers. The Toyota Production System (TPS) calls for the end product to be “pulled” through the system, meaning that the right parts reach the assembly line at the right place, just as they are needed, and with no excess. This approach represented a radical departure from conventional manufacturing systems, which required large inventories in order to “push” as much product as possible through production lines, regardless of actual demand. The idea of TPS, to the contrary, is to produce only the products required in the precise quantities desired at a given point in time[5].
Toyota Way
Challenge: Toyota employees form a long-term vision, meeting challenges with courage and creativity to realise their dreams.
Kaizen: Toyota employees improve their business operations continuously, always driving for innovation and evolution.
Genchi Genbutsu: Toyota employees practice Genchi Genbutsu... go to the source to find the facts to make correct decisions, build consensus and achieve goals at the best speed.
Respect: Toyota employees respect others, makes every effort to understand each other, take responsibility and do our best to build mutual trust.
Teamwork: Toyota employees stimulate personal and professional growth, share the opportunities of development and maximize individual and team performance.
Environmental Activities
editBack in 1997, Toyota set a long-term strategic target of “zero emissions”. By 2010, Toyota aims to be the environmental leader in all European automotive markets and is determined to reduce the environmental impact of its cars.
Toyota and Hybrid
Toyota is the world’s leading manufacturer of hybrid vehicles and has the largest hybrid model line-up. In 1997 it launched the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car, the Toyota Prius. Toyota has already sold more than 1.7 million hybrid vehicles (November 2008). It's targetting to reach annual hybrid sales of 1 million units by the early 2010s
Hybrid Synergy Drive® (HSD) is the concept behind the new generation of hybrid vehicles from the Toyota brand, including the Toyota Prius, the world’s bestselling hybrid vehicle. HSD combines driving pleasure and performance with fuel economy, low emissions and silent driving. The word “synergy” extends to the higher synergy between the petrol engine and electric motor to power the vehicle. The electric motor is now more powerful, allowing a higher ratio of electrical/petrol usage. The results are more performance with greatly improved efficiency[6].
The Lexus brand first introduced hybrid power trains with the RX 400h in May 2005. Since then, Lexus has gained more ground with its European hybrid strategy, both by launching the GS 450h in May 2006 and presenting the company’s forthcoming flagship, the LS 600h, in May 2007. In addition to the quietness, smoothness and refinement of hybrid power trains, Lexus Hybrid Drive is praised for its powerful and linear acceleration combined with segment-leading environmental performance[7].
Toyota Optimal Drive
At the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Toyota introduced its Toyota Optimal Drive. This new concept is intended to:
— Reduce harmful emissions
— Increase fuel combustion efficiency
— Not compromise on driving pleasure
— Be standard on new model launches
Built on the company’s legendary Kaizen tradition of constant optimisation, Toyota engineers have developed new technologies, improved combustion efficiency, reduced engine/transmission weight, and friction, to produce new engines that produce more power, yet at the same time are more efficient and economical.
Within one year, 80% of the Toyota cars sold will be equipped with Toyota Optimal Drive technology. This new concept will be the key element in achieving Toyota’s overall CO2 average target of below 140g/km.
Sustainable Operations
In 2008, Toyota began its European sustainable plant activities at two manufacturing companies in France and the United Kingdom. The activities are to emphasize the role of nature in creating production sites that harmonize with their natural surroundings.
TMMF (Valenciennes, France) and TMUK (Burnaston and Deeside, UK) will ramp up efforts in Europe by serving as the industry benchmark for the sustainable production of vehicles and engines. Each plant will pilot activities to help realise ambitious 2010 environmental targets, including a 25% reduction in water use by Toyota’s European manufacturing network. Successful activities will be adopted as standards by Toyota plants globally[8].
References
edit- ^ Toyota Motor Europe Corporate Website\Toyota in Europe
- ^ Toyota Motor Europe Press Release 2008 sales and production results
- ^ Toyota Motor Europe Corporate Website\Operations overview
- ^ Toyota Motor Europe Corporate Website\Toyota in Europe
- ^ Toyota Motor Europe Corporate Website\The Toyota Production System
- ^ Toyota Motor Europe Corporate Website\Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive
- ^ Toyota Motor Europe Corporate Website\Lexus Hybrid Drive
- ^ Toyota Motor Europe Press Release Sustainable Plant Activities in Europe