by Toyota May Produce GR Corolla for Europe
Toyota plans to expand production of the GR Corolla sports model by adding a new line at its UK plant from 2026. This will be the first time a Gazoo Racing series car is manufactured outside of Japan. European car enthusiasts could get the updated version of the all-wheel-drive hatchback in 2026.
Matt Harrison, head of Toyota Motor Europe, confirmed that the company is considering selling the GR Corolla in Europe:
“We adhere to the principle of ‘producing where you sell,’ so production in Europe without sales here would be pointless. The main thing now is to quickly introduce the model to the market.”
Prospects for the European Market
Currently, Toyota’s European range of sports models is limited to the GR Yaris after the discontinuation of the GR 86 due to environmental regulations. The GR Corolla, which is already sold in Japan, North America, and Australia, could fill this niche. The European version is expected to feature updated aerodynamics, improved suspension, and increased torque from the 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine producing 300 hp.
In the UK, the model could appear as early as a year and a half after the start of local production. Its price is likely to exceed that of the GR Yaris, which starts from £46,045.
In the European market, the GR Corolla will face competition from all-wheel-drive models such as the Audi S3, BMW 135i xDrive, and Mercedes A35 4Matic+. Meanwhile, many traditional hot hatches like the Peugeot 308 GTI or Renault Megane RS have already been discontinued or will be soon.
Growing demand for the GR Corolla and limited production capacity in Japan have forced Toyota to seek additional sites for manufacturing this model. The British plant in Derbyshire will become the second production center after the Motomachi plant in Yokohama. This decision could significantly reduce waiting times for European customers who have long awaited the arrival of this model in their region.
