Toyota to begin production of second hybrid transmission in Poland by 2021

As Toyota Motor Europe (TME)’s hybrid vehicle sales continue to rise as a percentage of total sales in the European region, reaching 52% in H1 2019, the company continues its efforts to localise production of hybrid engine components in Europe.

Its TMMP plant in Walbrzych, Poland, announced that it will add an e-CVT from 2021 to its existing production.

Together with earlier announcements, Toyota's total investment in both its Polish manufacturing centres in Walbrzych and Jelcz-Laskowice will increase to approximately €1.2 billion ($1.33 billion).

“Our Polish plants are increasingly becoming a key manufacturing centre for electrified powertrain components for low-emission hybrid electric powertrains in Europe. This announcement is a clear sign of appreciation for our plants' achievements and a renewed vote of confidence for the future. We will continue to develop our members to work with modern, automated processes that come with the production of the main components of electric motors. Today marks an important step in the long term planning towards continued electrification of the Polish, and the overall European automotive industry,” said Eiji Takeichi, President of TMMP.

“The economy is a bit like a car. If you do not have a good drive, if you do not have good gear ratios the economy is not spinning as well as it should. Modern technologies, such as those that we attract with Toyota to Poland are just such a good drive. So we're well on our way to increase the modernity and innovation of the Polish economy. Here, in Wałbrzych a new investment in low emission industry & state of-the-art mobility is realised. These investments, which today I saw in Wałbrzych, along with those for the coming years, for the two to be done are a huge opportunity for development of the whole economy,” said Mateusz Morawiecki, Polish Prime Minister

The hybrid e-CVT is at the heart of Toyota's hybrid electric powertrain system. Thanks to the smart interaction with a gasoline engine and the two on-board electric motors, the e-CVT ensures an optimum energy flow within the vehicle. Typical for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), kinetic energy is recuperated when the car decelerates and brakes, leading to reduced fuel consumption.

When it comes to emissions, several independent studies show that a HEV drives over 50% of the distance in zero-emission mode on urban and sub-urban trips. Toyota sees HEVs as an important step towards electrification of transport, providing customers with convenient and affordable low-emission mobility and cities or regions with a practical and readily-available solution to improve air quality and reduce CO2 emissions.