Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) has hit a milestone with the production of the five millionth car at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire.

The five millionth vehicle to exit the Burnaston assembly line was a Corolla GR Sport Hatchback hybrid

The landmark vehicle was a Corolla GR Sport Hatchback hybrid, finished in Scarlet Flare paintwork, which came off the assembly line earlier this month.

Parked nose-to-tail, the UK-built Toyotas would form a line almost 14,000 miles long – more than halfway around the world.

Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK), the carmaker’s UK manufacturing operation, was established in 1989 and started production at Burnaston in 1992.

One of the country’s leading automotive businesses, as well as one of Toyota’s principal European production centres, the site has benefited more than £2.82bn investment over the years.

Notably it was the first Toyota facility outside Japan to make hybrid vehicles and it continues to be a centre of excellence for the technology. Today, 100% of UK production is hybrid.

TMUK also continues to blaze a trail for Toyota’s environmental programme, pioneering the generation and use of sustainable energy sources, minimising waste and maximising opportunities for recovering, recycling and re-using parts and materials. TMUK’s engine plant in Deeside, North Wales, is on course to become the carmaker’s first global carbon-neutral production site in 2025.

The majority of TMUK’s vehicle production (around 85%) is exported, mostly to the European Union and other European markets.

Darius Mikolajczak, TMUK managing director, said: “The milestone of five million cars represents more than just a numerical achievement. It also reflects our contribution to the UK economy and our continued investment in making ever-better cars, embracing new technologies and new ways of working, while building strong and mutually rewarding relationships, with our suppliers, our partners and our local communities.”

The Corolla nameplate has appeared on more vehicles worldwide than any other, with more than 50 million sold to date. The current Corolla is the 12th generation in a model range that goes back to 1966.

The latest-edition Corolla comprises a five-door hatchback and a Touring Sports estate version, available in equipment grades that include GR Sport versions and with two full hybrid powertrain options: 1.8 and 2.0-litre.

These models are all produced by TMUK, along with the Corolla Commercial, which is based on the Corolla Touring Sports 1.8 Hybrid but repurposed at Burnaston as a compact hybrid van – the first of its kind on the UK market.