Toyota steps up skills development ahead of latest hybrid launch

On the same day that Nissan announced the European pricing for its trail-blazing Leaf electric vehicle, arch-rival Toyota attempted to remind drivers that its own investment in low carbon vehicles is continuing to move forward, with news that it has developed a new training programme to prepare staff for the launch of its next hybrid car.

The company said it had worked with the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies to develop a training course for staff at its Burnaston and Deeside factories that has been officially recognised as a Level 2 Non-Vocational Qualification (NVQ).

The course focused mainly on the specialist electronics skills that are required to safely assemble a hybrid vehicle ahead of the July launch of the Auris Hybrid, the first Toyota hybrid to be manufactured in the UK.

However, with the Auris expected to be promoted as a green car boasting average emissions of 89g/km the company also used the opportunity to promote wider environmental best practice among its UK workforce.

For example, the course covered how to safely handle the high-voltage components used in hybrid-drive trains, and also provided training on the importance of green best practices and how to apply them in both the workplace and wider society.

Tony Walker, Toyota Motors UK (TMUK) deputy managing director, said that the training meant that the company's UK operations were well positioned to manufacture the new Auris Hybrid and play a leading role in the development of future hybrid models from the company.

"We are the first in Europe to have the skills and knowledge needed to manufacture full hybrid vehicles," he said. "And with Toyota's strategy to progressively expand its full hybrid technology to more models, TMUK will be well placed potentially to produce them."