It plans to build a new 4-cylinder, 1.3-litre engine which is scheduled to go into production late next year.

The announcement is the second major investment at the Deeside plant in the past year and takes the total investment by the Japanese carmaker in Wales to £700m.

Tokuichi Uranishi, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “This announcement recognises the quality of the UK workforce and demonstrates Toyota's confidence in our UK investment and continued effort towards local production.” Along with Toyota's car plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire, the UK has two of Toyota's nine European manufacturing operations and employs over 4,900 people. Deeside currently produces three petrol engines at a rate of 185,000 a year while Burnaston assembled 277,854 Toyota Auris and Avensis cars last year. Tetsuo Agata, executive vice president for Toyota Europe added: “This investment highlights the significance of the UK's role in the continuous growth of our operations in Europe.” Production at Deeside began in September 1992 and in February last year the plant made its 3 millionth engine. Source: Headlineauto.co.uk