VALENCIENNES, France -- Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, started manufacturing the Yaris compact model at its first plant in France here on Wednesday, part of the company's efforts to increase its presence in Europe.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing France S.A.S., established in October 1998, plans to assemble 60,000 units at the factory this year. Production capacity will be increased to a maximum of 150,000 units a year in 2002 at the earliest.
Toyota has spent about 80 billion yen on the French factory, its second car manufacturing plant in Europe.