Toyota Marks 25 Years of Yaris Production in France with New Yaris Cross Model

Toyota's manufacturing plant in Onnaing, northern France, recently celebrated 25 years of producing the Yaris and Yaris Cross models, reaching a milestone of 5 million vehicles produced. Established in 2001, the plant originally produced the first-generation Yaris, unveiled at the 1998 Paris Motor Show, and has since expanded its workforce from 1,900 to approximately 4,800 employees, doubling its annual output to around 300,000 cars. The plant operates 24/7 in three shifts, producing a new vehicle every 58 seconds, with a strong emphasis on quality control and environmental sustainability.

The Yaris Cross, a small crossover based on the popular Yaris, was first introduced in April 2020 and arrived in Israel in August 2021. Toyota Europe recently unveiled a second facelift for the Yaris Cross, maintaining its successful hybrid powertrain options and efficient fuel consumption of 22.7 km per liter. The updated model features a redesigned front grille, new LED lighting signatures, refreshed bumper design, new wheel designs, and additional color options. Interior upgrades include platinum-colored upholstery with matching stitching, ambient lighting, and wireless charging. A sportier GR version offers unique styling and suspension tuning but retains the same powertrain.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF) is one of several Toyota plants across Europe, including facilities in the Czech Republic, the UK, Portugal, Turkey, Ireland, and Poland. Collectively, these plants produced nearly 1.23 million vehicles in 2025, with 77% of Toyota's European sales manufactured locally. The French plant emphasizes reducing carbon emissions throughout the production process, employing solar panels, water desalination, rainwater harvesting, and extensive recycling programs. These efforts have saved approximately 3.17 tons of CO2 annually from waste reduction alone.

The Yaris Cross facelift is expected to arrive in Israel by the end of the year. Toyota continues to focus on meeting European market preferences by producing the Yaris and Yaris Cross locally, ensuring vehicles are tailored to regional tastes and environmental standards. Product manager César Romero highlighted that driving European-made Yaris models reveals noticeable differences compared to those produced in Japan.