Toyota Motor Launches AZ Engine Production in Guangzhou

Tokyo (JCN) Nov 24, 2005- Guangqi Toyota Engine Co. (GTE), a Toyota Motor's engine part production joint venture established with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. of China in February 2004, began producing AZ 2.4-liter gasoline engines at its plant in Nansha, Guangzhou City, China, on November 22.

GTE has already been manufacturing engine parts since January 2005, and has an annual engine output capacity of 300,000 units. The company began deploying the plant's second engine production line in October with the aim of boosting the capacity to 500,000 units in 2006.

All engine parts and engine units produced in 2005 will have been exported to Japan.

Guangzhou Toyota Motor Co., another joint venture formed in September 2004 by Toyota and Guangzhou Automobile for automobile production and sales, is scheduled to produce Camry vehicles equipped with GTE's AZ engines from mid-2006.

By Aki Tsukioka, JCN Staff Writer