New generation Corolla to be produced locally

ISTANBUL - Hürriye

Toyota head Akio Toyoda says his company is to focus on the joy of driving. AP photo

The new generation of the Toyota Corolla will be produced in Turkey starting in 2013, according to the company’s chairman, Akio Toyoda.

With a 150 million euro investment, Toyota hopes the new generation Corolla will revive the brand, the executive told daily Hürriyet at the Tokyo Motor Show event on Dec. 4. “Until today, Toyota cars
were known for their safety and dependability.

Now, we are going to produce cars everyone will want to buy and enjoy driving,” said Toyoda, adding that the Corolla model to be produced in Turkey would be at the top of the list. “Once the Corolla is locally produced, our sales will soar from 20,000 to 35,000 vehicles.

We gave our word to the Japanese and that is why we were able to convince them to produce in Turkey,” said Ali Haydar Bozkurt, Toyota Turkey’s chief executive.

The new-generation Corolla will be produced in the Marmara province of Sakarya.