9 October 2002: Toyota has launched its first made-in-China car in that country - the Vios, a Corolla-sized saloon that will sell for the equivalent of E13,900 to E23,600 and with a choice of 1.3- or 1.5-litre engines.

The car is the result of an agreement with China's biggest automaker, First Automotive Works, and the company hopes to be building 300,000 to 400,000 luxury sedans, compacts and sport-utility vehicles annually for China by 2010. Some 30,000 of these will be accounted for by Vios.

The car bears a number of resemblances to the Corolla familiar in Ireland, but its interior features the central digital-instrument ‘pod’ introduced in the Yaris.

In the China market, where Toyota has lagged behind a number of other foreign manufacturers in getting a foothold, the Vios will be competing with Volkswagen's Bora and Santana sedans, Mazda's Familia and local company Brilliance China's Zhonghua

China is the world’s fastest-growing car market, but car ownership was only available to a select few because of high tariffs. The country’s entry to the World Trade Organisation last December has slashed tariffs on car imports, increasing competition and sparking successive price cuts from Chinese and foreign carmakers.