Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile (TPCA) has officially opened its plant in the Industrial zone Kolín-Ovčáry today. 

TPCA, equally owned by PSA Peugeot Citroën and Toyota Motor Corporation, has opened its doors to its first visitors. The opening ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Jiří Paroubek, Deputy Prime Minister, Martin Jahn, mayor of Kolín, Miroslav Kaisler, President of PSA Peugeot Citroën Jean - Martin Folz and Fujio Cho, president of the Toyota Company.

The representatives of the Kolín City Hall have officially presented to TPCA’s representatives, to Mr. Masatake Enomoto and Jean - Pierre Chantossel, honorary citizenships of the Kolín City. The representatives in return presented to the representatives of the state, the key to the gate of the automotive plant, which represents openness and friendship to the country that it resides in.

TPCA announced that on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the factory, it shall present the village Ovčáry with two million crowns for the construction of a sports field and the city of Kolín eight million crowns for the construction of the footbridge linking the city to Kmochov island. TPCA also promised that it shall support its region through its grant program Partnership for the Kolín region in years to come. Thanks to this program, 14 projects focused on the social and economic development of the region will be supported by a total amount of four million crowns in 2005. Since 2002, TPCA has supported the region with 26 million crowns.

Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile (TPCA) was established in March 2003 and since February 28th of this year it has been producing new small modern cars called Toyota Aygo, Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1. The TPCA project ensured the creation of 3,000 jobs and represented an investment of approximately € 1.3 billion euro (including the cost of developing a new car).

TPCA in numbers

Name - Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile Czech (TPCA)
Place - Kolín, Czech Republic
Management - Masatake Enomoto, company president, Jean-Pierre Chantossel, company vice-president
Established in March 2002
Production capacity - Approximately 300 000 vehicles annually
Area - 124 hectares
Production phases - Vehicle production (stamp, welding, paint and final assembly)
Investment - 1,3 billion euro (including research, development and starting costs of factory)
Start of production - February 28th, 2005
Employees (target number) - Approximately 3 000 employees