Jun 2 2005
Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile (TPCA) held a ceremony this weekmarking the official inauguration of its plant in Kolín , 60 kilometers east of the Czech Republic capital of Prague.
TPCA is jointly owned by PSA Peugeot Citroën and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), and for the first time the public and the media were able to visit TPCA's brand new plant today, which produces three, all-new small cars on a common platform: the Citroën C1, the Peugeot 107 and the Toyota Aygo. Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, Czech Vice Prime Minister Martin Jahn, Mayor of Kolín Miroslav Kaisler, PSA Peugeot Citroën CEO Jean-Martin Folz and TMC President Fujio Cho, among others, attended the event.
To welcome the production of these modern, stylish and affordable four-seater cars, as well as to acknowledge TPCA's contribution to the economic development of the region, Kolín city officials granted TPCA President Masatake Enomoto and Vice-President Jean-Pierre Chantossel the status of "Honorable Citizen". In a similar ceremonial gesture, TPCA presented representatives of Czech authorities with symbolic keys to the gates of the plant, as a token of TPCA's openness and friendship toward its host country.
Understanding its responsibilities to the wider community, TPCA also announced that it would donate 2 million Czech crowns (€ 67,000) to the municipality of Ovčáry this year to build a sports arena and 8 million Czech crowns (€ 266,000) to the city of Kolín for the construction of a pedestrian bridge connecting the city to Kmoch's Island. TPCA will also continue to support the social and economic development of the region with a donation of 4 million Czech crowns (€ 133,000) to the "Partnership for the Region of Kolín". Since 2002, TPCA has contributed a total of 26 million Czech crowns (€ 867,000) to the region.
Established in March 2002, TPCA has been producing the Citroën C1, Peugeot 107 and Toyota Aygo at the new plant since February 28. The plant is the fruit of a successful cooperation project that allowed the two global carmakers to combine their knowledge of product design, styling, production and supplier relationships, while learning from each other's corporate cultures, technologies and processes. This led to an exchange of a wealth of specific know-how: PSA Peugeot Citroën's knowledge of small cars in Europe and its expertise in purchasing activities; and TMC's skill in development, manufacturing and production processes. Supported by their spirit of teamwork and reinforced by a favorable national environment in terms of a solid industrial experience and a quality education system, TPCA completed all stages of the cooperation successfully in terms of deadlines and results.
The total investment, including research/development and business start-up costs, is estimated at approximately €1.3 billion. The project is expected to directly create 3,000 jobs.
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