Toyota unit to open UK parts plant

TOYODA GOSEI, an affiliate of the Japanese car giant Toyota, yesterday announced it would invest pounds 32m and create 400 new jobs by building a car parts factory in the UK. Production will start at the new plant in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, by the end of next year. The deal was announced jointly by the firm's president, Tokio Horigome, and the Industry Secretary, Stephen Byers, who is visiting Japan. Toyoda's new factory, its first production plant in Europe, will make sealing parts to be supplied to Toyota's French car plant. Toyoda supplies about 70 per cent of its products to Toyota, but also counts Honda, Mazda and Mitsubishi Motors among its customers.

Separately, Mr Byers also announced that Boots has signed two leases with Mitsubishi Corporation to open new Boots Health and Beauty stores in Tokyo.