Toyota creates 250 new jobs at engine plant
Toyota is to create 250 jobs as it boosts production of engines at one of its UK plants.
The factory at Deeside in north Wales will more than double its output to produce 400,000 engine units a year by 2003.
Employment at the factory, which started production in 1992, is expected to increase from 350 to 600.
Toyota says it is planning "significant growth" in engine production at the plant, which makes engines for the company's car factory at Burnaston, near Derby.
From 2003, it will produce the diesel engines that are currently made in Japan and exported to Europe. The Deeside factory will also become a major global exporter of petrol engine components to other Toyota plants in South America and South Africa.
Toshio Mizushima, president and chief executive of Toyota Motor European Manufacturing, says: "These positive strategic changes will further strengthen Toyota's activities throughout Europe and are the next stages in Toyota UK's survival plan.
"Our plans will ensure that we have greater flexibility in our manufacturing operations in Europe."
Toyota says the Deeside factory will become its European centre for engine manufacturing excellence.
The company announced earlier this year plans to increase production at its Burnaston factory as a response to the tough economic conditions hitting the motor industry.
Bob Higgins, regional secretary of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union, says: "This is great news for the long-term future of Deeside, which will become a centre of excellence. It is a big reward for the skills of the workers."
