The second generation Toyota C-HR will be produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey (TMMT) in Sakarya. It will be the first plug-in hybrid passenger car to be produced in Turkey. In addition, TMMT will be Toyota’s first European plant to start producing PHEVs and the first to be equipped with a battery production line.

“The 100% electrified powertrain line-up of the new Toyota C-HR (hybrid and plug-in hybrid) reflects Toyota’s commitment to offering appropriate carbon reduction opportunities to the largest and most competitive market segment in Europe,” says the official press release.

“In addition to the hybrid version, the new plug-in hybrid Toyota C-HR with locally assembled batteries will further expand Toyota’s multi-technology offer towards its target of 100% CO₂ reduction in its vehicle line-up in Europe¹ by 2035.”

“We are proud to announce that TMMT will produce the second-generation Toyota C-HR, including the first plug-in hybrid vehicle in Europe., says Marvin Cooke, Toyota Motor Europe EVP of Manufacturing.

“The outstanding performance and dedication that our TMMT employees deliver will make this new model a great success, just like its predecessor. It also marks another significant milestone with the start of our first battery assembly line in Europe, which is an essential step in our European electrification plan.”

PHEV battery production

Alongside the vehicle production line, TMMT will build a new plug-in battery assembly line with a capacity of 75 000 units per year within its facility. Plug-in hybrid battery assembly will start in December 2023, creating around 60 new skilled jobs.

“Creating a battery assembly line in TMMT is a strategic milestone for Toyota’s electrification transformation and will also support other Toyota Europe plants in the future with capable manpower and know-how,” says the press release. The total investment for this project will be around € 317 million, bringing the overall cumulative investment in TMMT to around € 2,3 billion.

Green plant

Toyota is committed to achieving total carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040 and is targeting carbon neutrality in all its manufacturing facilities by 2030. Also, TMMT is progressing towards this goal by introducing technologies that minimize energy consumption.

At the same time, switching to renewable energy within the Sakarya plant is one of the primary objectives. These measures include the introduction of new paint shop technologies which minimize CO2 emissions and the use of solar energy, which aims to make the plant self-sufficient in its energy use.

TMMT in Sakarya, Turkey, started in 1994. In 2021 it had already produced 3 million vehicles, and actually, it produces Corolla and C-HR models. Currently, the factory has the highest production volume of all Toyota factories in Europe. It has a capacity of turning out 280 000 vehicles a year.

“This project once again confirms that our production facility in Sakarya is a globally important place for Toyota, concludes Erdoğan Şahin, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey President & CEO. “I am proud to share this important milestone on behalf of our employees and valuable suppliers.  As one team, we will continue contributing to Sakarya and the Turkish economy by working together with all our energy.”