The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, UK Secretary of State for Transport, joined Didier Leroy, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, at a ceremony to see the new car off the line at the Derbyshire factory.

Patrick McLoughlin said: ‘Toyota’s ongoing investment in Burnaston is a huge vote of confidence in our thriving car manufacturing industry, proving again Britain’s ability to make world class cars that appeal to a global customer base. It is thanks to the support of manufacturers like Toyota that we are encouraging more young people to pursue an engineering career. This is an industry that is helping generate the jobs and wealth we need to secure the UK’s place in the global economic race.’

Didier Leroy commented: ‘Auris Touring Sports marks a further stage in our programme for bringing more Toyota hybrid models to the market in Europe, cars that meet the needs of an even wider range of customers. It will be a unique aproposition as the only model in the European family/compact estate car market to offer the choice of full hybrid, in addition to conventional petrol and diesel power.’

The Auris Touring Sports will be produced alongside the Auris and Avensis models at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s (TMUK) Burnaston car plant. TMUK employs more than 3,800 people exports around 85% of its vehicle production to Europe and other world markets.