Toyota starts 1.4 litre diesel engine production in poland
On August 30, Toyota Motor Industries Poland (TMIP) officially started the production of a new 1.4 litre diesel engine. The engine will be supplied to Toyota's manufacturing plants in the UK, France, Turkey and South Africa.
In line with Toyota's policy of producing vehicles, engines and transmissions locally, the Europe-built 1.4 litre diesel engine will be assembled in the European core models Toyota Auris and Toyota Yaris as well as in the Toyota Corolla produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing South Africa. The target production volume is 70,000 units on full-year basis.These models will benefit from the engine's efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions which result from new piezo injector, enhanced Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler efficiency and a stainless steel exhaust manifold with an optional Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).
Mr Hiroyuki Ochiai, Executive Vice-President Toyota Motor Europe, said: "Our investments in Poland and, more specifically, TMIP's clean diesel engines, play a crucial role in supporting Toyota's environmental efforts while providing our European customers with innovative and superior quality products. To tackle the environmental challenges of CO2 reduction and air quality, we aim to progress towards the ultimate eco-car — a car with zero emissions. To this end, we are investing in a variety of technologies such as gasoline, diesel, electric vehicles and alternative fuels."
TMIP's 1.4 litre diesel engines will be built in the same production lines as the current TMIP products — 2.0 and 2.2 litre D-4D engines. Quality remains an absolute priority. All production techniques and standards were re-evaluated to maintain the highest standards in built-in quality, durability and reliability. Quality testing procedures and audits were strengthened at the Polish plant, covering areas specific for the 1.4 litre diesel engine.
Mr Hirotaka Morishita, President TMIP, said: "Quality is one of the key management points in our plant. The efforts we have made towards quality improvement over the last few years let us achieve one of the highest levels among the Toyota manufacturing plants located outside of Japan in FY 2009. In May 2010, we were honoured to receive the "Overseas Plant Quality Award" from Toyota Motor Corporation. The start of production of ND engine at TMIP presents a big challenge for our employees but I am convinced that with such experienced and motivated members working here in Poland, in Jelcz-Laskowice, we will produce the engines that will fully satisfy our customers".
In 2009, TMIP produced around 69,500 units. Five years after the start of production, TMIP has produced 524,056 engines which were exported to three Toyota plants (TMUK, TMMT, TSAM) and assembled in four different Toyota models: Avensis, Auris, Verso and Corolla.
Toyota's operations in Poland include two manufacturing sites — TMIP and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland located in Walbrzych. TMIP started the operation in March 2005 with 2.0 and 2.2 litre diesel engines. TMMP currently produces transmissions and gasoline engines. Up to date Toyota has invested over 767 million euros in Poland and employs around 2,900 employees.
Toyota Motor Industries Poland (TMIP) - Jelcz-Laskowice plant profile
Employment:684 members (status of end of August 2010)
Investment:approx. 248 million Euro
Start of production:21 March 2005
Processes:Casting, machining, assembly
Products:2.0 and 2.2 diesel engines1.4 litre diesel engine added in August 2010