Toyota begins shipping Le Yaris to America

Fri, 17 May 2013

Our tiniest Toyota (Scion iQ notwithstanding) is about to get a little French flair. The Japanese automaker announced Thursday that its Toyota Motor Manufacturing France facility would begin building Yaris models destined for North America – specifically, the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. This will mark the first time in history that Toyota has exported vehicles to North America from Europe.

Initially, Toyota will export roughly 25,000 Yaris models to North American markets from France each year. In order to handle this additional production, Toyota Motor Manufacturing France has invested 10 million euro into its French facility.

Despite being somewhat of a snooze-fest (it's a car!), the Yaris carries on in North America with a 106-horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, with prices starting at $14,370 for the three-door and $15,395 for the five-door, not including $795 for destination.

Toyota to Export French-made 'Yaris' to North America

Toyota City, Japan, May 16, 2013 -

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that its production subsidiary in France, Toyota Motor Manufacturing France S.A.S. (TMMF), held a ceremony today in Valenciennes on TMMF grounds to mark the start of "Yaris" subcompact production on May 6 for export to the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

The exports, at a volume of 25,000 units a year, will mark the first time Toyota vehicles produced in Europe will be exported to North America. The development represents an additional investment of 10 million euros by TMMF.

The ceremony was attended by TMMF President Makoto Sano and Didier Leroy, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA, TMC's regional headquarters in Europe. At the ceremony, Leroy said: "This additional export market is yet more evidence of the competitiveness of Toyota in France."

The current, third-generation Yaris was launched in Europe in the summer of 2011, followed by the Yaris Hybrid in June 2012. At present, Yaris vehicles produced by TMMF are sold in more than 40 countries worldwide in Europe, Africa, Oceania and Latin America.

Toyota will continue to aim for a globally optimized production and supply structure that accurately meets consumer needs in a timely manner.

By Steven J. Ewing