TOYOTA FRANCE

The Toyota Yaris is a car of character with a dynamic, elegant and stylish design. In July 2012, Toyota became the ^first car manufacturer to receive the Origine France Garantie label for the French production of its entire Yaris range (petrol, diesel and hybrid).

History. Toyota's history began in the late 19th century, when Sakichi Toyoda invented Japan's first mechanical loom, an invention that would revolutionize the archipelago's textile industry. In January 1918, Sakichi founded the Toyoda Spinning & Weaving Company and, with the help of his son Kiichiro, built the country's first automated loom in 1924. Two years later he founded Toyoda Automatic Loom Works.

Like his father, Kiichido was an innovator and, during his visits to Europe and the United States in the 1920s, he took a keen interest in the very young automotive industry. In 1937, he founded the Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC).

The desire to design and produce cars in the markets where they are marketed led the group, at the end of the 1950s, to establish itself industrially abroad. This was with the first "Crown" model launched in the United States in 1957.

The Toyota Yaris (named Toyota Vitz in Japan) is a model produced since 1999 in Japan and also built since 2001 in France in Onnaing, near Valenciennes for the European market (except the TS version which was imported from Japan). The first generation was available in three and five doors as well as in a small Yaris Verso minivan, then called Toyota FunCargo in Japan. The Toyota Yaris II is 4 cm longer and is becoming available in Canada as well. A 90 hp 1.4 l D-4D 1.4 l diesel and a stiffer chassis are introduced. It was launched in Europe in early 2006. The third generation Toyota Yaris was launched on December 22, 2010 in Yokohama, Japan, under its usual local name Vitz. The model is being launched in Europe and other countries in September 2011. This generation features a new 1.3-litre engine announced as more economical than the 1-litre 3-cylinder engine, and the multi-function "touch and go" display.

Employment. The Onnaing production site employed 3,950 people. In 2018, Toyota invested 400 million euros and hired 700 employees on permanent contracts. A few months later, she announced the recruitment of 150 additional temporary staff to meet the strong demand for Yaris.