Toyota Europe CEO Says the Focus is on European Production

ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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Europe CEO Didier Leroy has given an interview to Automotive News Europe where he discussed the future of the company in Europe and laid out its future plans. 

Leroy became Toyota Europe CEO in 2010, and in 2012 he brought the company its first fiscal profit since 2007.

He said the major elements bringing Toyota success in Europe were its large C-segment lineup that includes the AurisToyota Toyota Auris Gen.3Japan, 2012 > present78 versions
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, VersoToyota Verso Gen.1Japan, 2001 > present53 versions
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and Rav4Toyota Rav4 Gen.4Japan, 2013 > present24 versions
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, and that it is gradually moving more production into Europe instead of exporting cars from Japan. 

"We aim to build 75 percent of vehicles sold in Europe in the region by 2015/2016, up from 63 percent to 64 percent now. We have reorganized our production, for example building the Auris only in the UK instead of the UK and Turkey and building the Corolla sedan in Turkey," said Leroy.

Leroy did not discuss many upcoming products other than the new Corolla that will go on sale in 2014. Toyota Europe will primarily market it in Central and Eastern Europe. 

Hybrids have been a major success for Toyota, especially at LexusLexusJapan, 1989 > present26 models
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6 videos
where hybrids represent 57% of sales. Toyota is predicting that hybrid sales will continue to grow. 

"In 2013 hybrids will account for 17 percent to 18 percent of all European sales for Toyota and Lexus, up from 13 percent in 2012 and 10 percent or 11 percent in 2011. We think hybrids have reached a tipping point in Europe," he said.

With any discussion with a European auto executive, the health of the market is sure to come up. Leroy was quite optimistic compared to his peers. 

"Europe cannot continue to drop. We can expect the market to be better in 2014 and 2015. Governments are taking action to ensure better economic conditions so I am not pessimistic.

"Russia is forecast to grow at just 1 percent in 2013 so our growth will not just come from that market. We will grow everywhere," he said. 

Source: Automotive News Europe