TME also announced that the hybrid engine for the crossover is to be produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK’s engine plant in Deeside, Wales.

The production destination for the vehicles will be greater Europe and regions outside Europe. Individual export countries are being considered at this time.

TMMT currently produces the Corolla and Verso models. Total production capacity for TMMT will increase from 150 to 280 thousand vehicles per year. Annual production of the future crossover will depend on demand. Employment at TMMT is expected to increase from 3,000 to 4,000 in the months leading to the start of production, which is planned towards the end of 2016. The additional investment at TMMT is around 350 million euros for the project. Cumulative investment will reach €1.7 billion.

At TMUK Deeside, an additional £7.1 million are being invested in the facility and new equipment. Currently, the Deeside plant produces gasoline and hybrid engines for the Auris, gasoline engines for the Avensis, Corolla and Verso, and engines as parts to customers outside Europe. Cumulative investment at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (Burnaston and Deeside) will reach £2.2 billion.

The production vehicle based on the C-HR concept will be revealed on 1 March at the Geneva Motor Show. It will be based on Toyota’s new global architecture (TNGA). The vehicle will become the eighth model currently produced by Toyota in Europe for the European market, along with Avensis, Auris, Yaris, AYGO, Camry, Corolla and Verso. Local production-to-sales ratio is expected to rise beyond the 71% achieved in 2015.