The most produced car in France is not French

When Toyota established itself in Valenciennes in 1998, the story seemed like good publicity. Yet it is an unparalleled success.

In November 1998, the first stone of the Toyota Plant in Onnaing, near Valenciennes was laid. 23 months later and 16 World War I shells excavated, the first employees entered the brand-new buildings. This marked the beginning of an improbable Love Story between France and the Toyota Yaris.

Yaris Made in France

In 2023, the site produced 273,788 units, maintaining its title as the largest automobile manufacturing site in France since 2022. The site operates 5 days a week in 3-shift rotation, and every 90 seconds, one of the three models built at the factory rolls off the assembly line. Besides the Toyota Yaris and its SUV variant, the Yaris Cross, the Mazda 2 also benefits from this site. It’s no surprise since it is essentially a rebadged Yaris.

And the biggest winner in this successful factory is the Yaris Cross with 200,025 units produced. A significant increase of 24% compared to the previous year, with 95% of the volumes being hybrid versions. These figures make it the most produced car in France across all models and brands. Updated for its 2024 model year with more power, new features, and new colors, the Cross continues its journey from northern France to dealerships both in France and across Europe, as it is the best-selling Toyota in Europe.