Japanese automaker Toyota says it will produce its first battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) in Europe in Kolin, Czech Republic, Kallanish reports.
For this purpose, the company has allocated 680 million euros (791.2 million dollars) in new investments, of which 64 million euros will be allocated by the Czech government for the construction of a specialized battery assembly plant. Toyota Motor Manufacturing in the Czech Republic (TMMCZ) will expand its existing plant in Kolin from 152,000 to 173,000 square meters to accommodate the production of new cars, batteries, as well as new paint and welding workshops.
TMMCZ currently produces the Aygo X and Yaris Hybrid with a capacity of about 220,000 units per year. The automaker estimates that the new investments will create about 245 jobs in the country and benefit the supply chain, as most parts will be produced locally.
"This great success is the result of a series of negotiations both in Europe and in Japan, which my team and I conducted during which it is a privilege worth working on," comments Lukas Vlcek, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. "Toyota's investments are crucial for the future of the Czech Republic's automotive industry, as well as for the transition of our economy to higher added value, as defined in our economic strategy."
The government expects that its investments will bring 250 million euros of "benefits" to the state, noting that the automotive industry accounts for about 10% of the country's GDP.
TMMCZ is Toyota's first logistics center in the EU, which supplies vehicles to Toyota and Lexus dealerships in Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Production was started in 2002.
Yoshihiro Nakata, CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, believes that the addition of BEV to the production line will increase Toyota's presence in the European market and contribute to increased transportation efficiency.
Details of the production of both BEV and batteries were not disclosed.
"Callanish Asia"
Kallanish.com
