Toyota Plans GR Corolla Production in UK from 2026

Toyota will begin producing its GR Corolla hot hatch at the Burnaston plant in the UK starting in 2026, marking the first time a Gazoo Racing (GR) product will be built outside Japan. This move is driven by strong global demand and aims to accelerate delivery times, particularly for the North American market, where wait lists and dealer mark-ups have been issues since the model's 2022 launch. The Burnaston factory, already producing other Corolla variants, was chosen due to its skilled workforce, existing supply chain, and the UK's motorsport culture. Toyota plans to invest approximately $56 million (around £41 million) to establish a dedicated production line with a capacity of about 10,000 vehicles annually, primarily for export to North America. Additionally, shifting production to the UK benefits from favorable trade conditions, including reduced tariffs on UK-made vehicles entering the US, compared to higher levies on Japanese imports. Toyota has yet to confirm whether the UK-made GR Corolla will be sold in Europe, but the move is part of a broader strategy to optimize global production and meet growing customer demand.