In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has started transporting new cars by cross-channel rail services between its plants in France and Toton in the UK. Toyota plans to convert several traditional European delivery routes to the rail by 2024.
Toyota Motor Europe to Reduce CO2 Emissions
In line with its ambition to decarbonize its operations, Toyota Motor Europe (TME) is initially targeting reducing CO2 emissions by 10 per cent on its European network.
In tandem with its logistics partners Getlink and CAT Group, Toyota Motor Europe (TME), will initially transport around 70,000 cars on 270 trains per year. Corolla HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) produced at its plant in Derby will be freighted to its Valenciennes hub in France, and Yaris HEVs produced in France will be delivered to the UK.
With the new freight route, TME will successfully reduce CO2 emission by over 10 per cent on its logistics network, as well as reduce delivery lead times by approximately 50 per cent. This effort also makes Toyota the only automobile manufacturer using the “Chunnel” link to transport new vehicles.
As part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality in Europe, Toyota Motor Europe intends to convert its main transportation routes to rail by the year 2024. In April 2022, TME’s France logistics hub will be linked to the company’s factory in the Czech Republic, where the Yaris and new Aygo Cross are produced. TME intends to expand the rail network to Italy, Spain and Turkey. Once this is complete, the company stated that the move will reduce 7 million road haulage kilometres per year, substantially reducing road usage and CO2 emissions.
Jean-Christophe DEVILLE, Head of Vehicle Logistics at Toyota Motor Europe, stated that the commencement of the rail route signifies an important step made by Toyota Motor Europe to reduce carbon emissions, improve operations and deliver customer benefits with improved delivery lead times.
