Toyota drives back into black

The UK car industry was given a much needed boost today after Toyota revealed its British operations finally moved into the black.

The Japanese car maker said its Burnaston assembly plant near Derby and its Deeside engine factory in North Wales made pre-tax profits of £60.2m (€89.2m) last year.

It was 20% higher than the £50.4m (€74.7m) banked 12 months earlier and meant that Toyota had finally covered the cost of starting up in the UK 17 years ago.

The landmark contrasted with the present gloom hanging over the British car industry following thousands of job cuts through the collapse of MG Rover last year and problems at Jaguar, Peugeot and Vauxhall.