Concept
The election of the Donald Trump TI model (Tariff Isolationist)* brings an interesting twist to the announcement today that Toyota will export into Canada and the U.S. its new compact C-HR crossover, which debuted last November as a Scion concept in Los Angeles. (Maybe it should have been called the Scion RIP?)
Production Reality
The C-HR Concept in LA was named for its Compact size and High Ride height. With four doors and a hatch, it is claimed to be the perfect vehicle for “yuccies,” the young urban creatives who allegedly inspired an all-out feet-kicking, breathe-holding styling tantrum. No matter, the compact and sub-compact crossover segments are so hot that automakers are scrambling to meet demand, but don’t ask about car sales. (Scion C-HR Crossover Embraces Weird, Toyota Pulls Plug on Scion Brand and Scion FR-S Morphs into Toyota 86)
C-HR is now the eighth Toyota model built in Europe, in this case Turkey. C-HR is the also the latest addition to Toyota’s hybrid line-up. The hybrid engines will be built in the U.K.; transmissions in Poland – a typical example of the global car business. The new model is the third hybrid car produced in Europe, together with the Yaris Hybrid in France and the Auris and Auris Touring Sports hybrids in the UK.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey will add the Toyota C-HR to its current production of the Corolla and Verso on the same line. It is the first hybrid-powered vehicle to be produced in Turkey. C-HR is also the first Toyota car outside Japan to be manufactured based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA).
With the Toyota C-HR the total production capacity for TMMT will increase from 150,000 to 280,000 vehicles per year. TMMT has hired an additional 2000 new workers, with the total number of employees now around 5000. Production has been organized in three shifts. The additional plant investment at TMMT is around 350 million euros, taking the cumulative investment in the plant to 1.7 billion euros since it started operations in 1994.
*Global Auto Business
The newest 1.8 hybrid powertrain for the crossover is being produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK’s engine plant in Deeside, North Wales. An additional 7.1 million GBP was invested in the facility and new equipment.
The third Toyota’s European manufacturing site engaged in Toyota C-HR production is Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland (TMMP) located in Walbrzych. The plant will supply manual transmissions for the 1.2-liter turbo engine model. In addition, TMMP will start production of the hybrid transaxle in 2018, currently being made in Japan.
