Toyota backs Cable's drive for eco-car strategy

BURNASTON car manufacturer Toyota is backing a Government strategy which aims to put the UK at the forefront of low-carbon vehicle production.

Business Secretary Vince Cable yesterday announced the Automotive Industrial Strategy, which will be delivered by the UK Automotive Council to enhance the competitiveness of the sector.

At the heart of the strategy is a proposed £1 billion Advanced Propulsion Centre to help develop technologies and supply chains to manufacture the next generation of eco cars. The Government and industry will each invest £500 million over the next 10 years in the centre.

Toyota's Burnaston plant produces low-carbon cars in the Auris Hybrid. Although the firm is not among the 27 that will make a cash contribution to the centre, Toyota said that it fully backed the principle behind it.

Chris O'Keefe, of Toyota Motor Europe, said: "We strongly support this Government's determination to strengthen the UK's leadership for low-carbon production and low-carbon products."