Toyota and Europe's PSA Announce Three New Co-Developed Cars

Although it might be expected that the three new cars would be produced in either Japan or France, the trio will be built

The trio of cars will be built under one roof in Kòlin, located in the Czech Republic. (Photo: PSA)

under one roof in Kòlin, located in the Czech Republic. All three manufacturers felt that in order to keep prices competitive and to successfully compete in both Eastern and Western Europe, production could not take place at Toyota's facilities in Japan or PSA's facilities in France. Announced in July, 2001 at a cost of E1.5 billion ($3.5 billion CAD, $2.9 billion USD), the new plant has the capacity to produce 300,000 units per year, to be split equally between the three cars.

PSA's and Toyota's move to create affordable, economical and safe personal transportation isn't a unique effort. The European market is preparing for a heavy onslaught of this sort of vehicle, including the Renault-designed Dacia Logan, the already popular Ford Ka and Volkswagen's forthcoming Brazilian-built Fox, set to replace the slow-selling Lupo.

However appealing the trio are on paper, because of their unusual shapes, low power and diminutive size, it is highly unlikely that even the Toyota model will end up being sold in North American markets, even if a major fuel crisis should strike.