About us

In Europe Toyota currently employs around 80,000 people. With 9 manufacturing plants and supported by by 31 National Marketing and Sales Companies operating in 56 countries, we sold 1,119,521 vehicles in 2008.

One of our guiding principles is that we should contribute to the development of a prosperous society, which we believe must include the sustainable development of the earth.

This means we have to work to protect the environment and generate economic growth at the same time. These two concepts are often placed in opposition, but we believe they can be compatible – thanks to technological innovation.

The most visible example of this is the Prius. When launched, in 1997, it was the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car, combining the power of a petrol engine with the clean, efficient energy of an electric motor. Today Prius is still by far the world’s most popular hybrid vehicle, with more than 1.2 million vehicles sold worldwide.
The environmental issues facing the world mean we all have to work together. We believe they can only be solved through mutual respect, a trust in the power of human knowledge, and technological innovation. We aim to combine the strengths of people and technology to help create a prosperous, low-carbon society.

Colin Hensley is General Manager of Corporate Affairs and Planning at Toyota Motor Europe (TME). A 13 year veteran of TME, he spent the first 11 years in Research and Development, where he had various responsibilities including R&D Management, Advanced Technology Research and Vehicle Safety & Crash-Testing.