The rumors were true: Toyota will begin producing the GR Corolla in the United Kingdom starting in 2026. Preparations at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) plant actually began last year and will culminate with the start of production sometime next year. The Burnaston factory in Derbyshire will become the company’s first plant outside Japan to assemble a full-fat Gazoo Racing product.
It makes sense to build the car in the UK, considering Toyota already produces the regular hatchback and the not-for-America Corolla Touring Sports wagon at the same site. Since its launch in 2022, the GR Corolla has been exclusively built in Japan at the Motomachi Plant. Whether relocating some of the production to the UK indicates plans to sell the car in Europe remains unclear. For now, the three-cylinder compact car remains a forbidden fruit on the Old Continent.
Photo by: Toyota
Toyota has announced that it will reveal details about where the UK-built GR Corolla will be sold at a later date. The company will also share information on annual production volumes and reveal how much it’s investing to prepare the factory for the flagship model’s arrival. TMUK has been making cars since 1992, when the first Carina rolled off the assembly line. The Avensis sedan and Auris hatch were also made there.
Toyota cites growing demand for the GR Corolla as the reason behind its decision to expand manufacturing. It also aims to “deliver vehicles to customers as swiftly as possible,” and according to Reuters, the UK-made cars will be shipped to the United States. The world’s largest automaker for the fifth consecutive year is reportedly spending up to $56 million to make it happen.
Once production ramps up, as many as 10,000 vehicles are expected to be shipped to North America annually. It’s worth noting that the Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff on vehicles assembled in Japan, while tariffs on UK-made cars have been reduced from 27.5% to 10% for up to 100,000 vehicles per year.
Shifting production of US-bound GR Corollas to the UK would ease some of the tax burden, though it’s unlikely current pricing will remain unchanged for long. Now might be the best time to buy one, unless you’re holding out for the hardcore version Toyota recently teased. It’ll have more torque than the standard car’s 295 lb-ft (400 Nm), although it’s unclear whether it will carry the GRMN badge or be a different kind of special edition. Expect a two-seat layout similar to the Morizo Edition.
