Poland

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Poland (TMMP) launched production of hybrid electric transmissions for its low-emission hybrid electric powertrains.

The new transmission combines with the latest generation 1.5L gasoline engine, produced in Jelcz-Laskowice, to form the hybrid electric powertrain for new Yaris, The Car of the Year 2021.

Demand for Toyota’s best-selling Yaris is at an all-time high, the B-segment model which made up over 20% of Toyota’s European sales last year, is manufactured at Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF) and from later this year at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Czech. TMMP’s output of hybrid electric powertrains will receive another boost when the new Yaris Cross begins production later in 2021, also at TMMF.

TMMP’s latest expansion forms a key part of Toyota Motor Europe’s strategy to further localize the production of hybrid electric drives to help meet the company’s ambition of selling 1.4M vehicles a year by 2025, 90% of sales will have electrified powertrains for its hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric and fuel cell vehicles. As part of its increased European investment, TME has expanded TMMP’s Wałbrzych Plant to accommodate a new casting line, additional processing lines and a new assembly line.

At the same time, TMMP also begins the first European production of the MG1 electric motor which forms an integral part of the hybrid electric transmissions, and to meet the increased demand for hybrids, the Wałbrzych plant will launch a twin production line for hybrid electric transmissions in autumn 2021. From 2022, it will start a second production line of 1.5L TNGA gasoline engines, effectively doubling TMMP’s hybrid electric powertrain production capacity for Toyota Yaris and Yaris Cross models.

“This marks a major step-up in TMMP’s capacity to build entire hybrid electric powertrains including electric motors and hybrid electric transmissions. As we broaden our multi-powertrain electrification line-up, it is essential that we continue to invest in the European infrastructure and expertise of our people. Our hybrid electric sales made up 53% of total volume in 2020 and we will increase hybrid sales along with those of battery electric, plug-in electric and fuel cell vehicles. Together these technologies have enabled us to meet our EU CO2 fleet targets in 2020, and we are confident that we will continue to achieve these targets in future.

Marvin Cooke, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Europe„

Once these new projects are fully up to speed in 2022, the factories in Wałbrzych and Jelcz-Laskowice will have a total of six production lines for the main hybrid components, including three lines of hybrid electric transmissions and three lines of TNGA combustion engines.

This increased localisation of production of hybrid electric components in Europe follows TMMP’s establishment of a Hybrid Drives Testing and Evaluation Department in 2020. Including the recently completed projects , the level of investments in both plants will increase to almost PLN 6 billion (or c. €1.3 billion) by the end of 2022, enabling a production capacity of 1.65 million components per year and employment to over 3,000 people.

Toyota's low-emission hybrid technology

Hybrid cars use two sources of power - gasoline and electric. During braking, the kinetic energy of the hybrid car is recovered and converted into electricity, thanks to which the vehicle consumes less fuel. Toyota sees hybrid technology as an important step towards full electrified mobility. Toyota’s hybrid technology reduces emissions, fuel consumption providing an accessible and affordable mobility solution for its customers. Toyota has located in Poland the first center for production and development of hybrid drives in the world outside of Asia. It supplies the hybrid electric transmissions and the associated TNGA hybrid gasoline engines for the group's low-emission vehicles manufactured in Europe.