<p>Not to be left out of the new model fun being had by iconic British brands like Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, MG and Mini that we've covered in previous articles, leading Japanese marques with UK manufacturing plants have also been launching their own ground-breaking new models.</p>
<p>In this article we focus on Toyota, and recent months have seen the firm trying to put aside well-publicised recall woes to celebrate a major milestone of three million cars built at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire.</p>
<p>Tipping the balance was an example of the company's Auris model and to mark the occasion a commemorative tree was planted in the site's grounds by a group of 25 employees out of the 400 who joined the workforce when the factory opened and who are still working there today.</p>
<p>Burnaston was Toyota's first European factory, initially producing Carina E models from December 1992 but now turning out the recently facelifted Auris and the Avensis model. The company's other British plant at Deeside in North Wales produces petrol engines for use in the UK and at other Toyota assembly plants across the world.</p>
<p>While this is an impressive milestone, the real ground-breaking development at the company's UK operations has been the recent start of production of the new hybrid Auris, utilising the firm's 'synergy drive' adapted from the Prius model.</p>
<p>The low-emissions Auris is Europe's first mass-produced hybrid car, securing 400 jobs at the Burnaston plant, and is a welcome demonstration of Toyota's commitment to UK manufacturing.</p>
<p>But perhaps more important than new model launches is Toyota's urgent need to restore the company's previously enviable reputation for quality.</p>
<p>A first bid to win back public support has been to introduce a new 5-year warranty and to set out plans to spend an extra four weeks making its cars. An expensive 'My Toyota' advertising campaign has also been launched to emphasise how their cars are receiving a newly personal touch.</p>
<p>The company's 2010 production figures will reveal the true scale of the effect that the recall has had on the firm's British operations. While hybrid and low-emissions models are increasing in popularity as petrol prices rise and public authorities provide a range of financial incentives to encourage buyers, the 2009 figure of 127,390 UK-built vehicles sets a benchmark that Toyota seems unlikely to match for some years ahead.</p>
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