15 June 2001: Toyota is to increase the annual production capacity for the Yaris at its French plant by 20 % to 180,000 units at the beginning of 2003.

The increase was announced by TMC President Fujio Cho, who said the decision was based on the encouraging sales performance of the Yaris in Europe.

The added capacity could create about 400 market-dependent jobs and as a step toward higher production, the plant is to switch from one shift to two this summer.

Toyota's European operation also plans to assume assembly of Yaris petrol engines from mid-2002 and of 1.4-litre diesel engines for the Yaris at the beginning of 2003. Additional investment for the engine assembly process has been set at around EUR 29 million.