Toyota to Export Cars from France to North America

Toyota Motor Corp. says it will begin exporting about 25,000 Yaris subcompact cars per year from its factory near Valenciennes, France, to the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico in May 2013.

The Yaris (known as the Vitz in Japan) will be the first European-made model that Toyota ships to North America.

The company will invest €8 million ($10 million) at the French plant to build cars to North American specifications. The export Yaris will be equipped with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine designed to meet U.S. regulatory standards. Toyota does not plan to ship hybrid versions of the Yaris to North America.

The carmaker currently imports all Yaris hatchbacks sold in North America from its factory in Takaoka, Japan. Toyota sold 37,500 of the hatchbacks in the U.S. and Canada last year. Shipping the bulk of those vehicles from France will allow the company to reduce its exposure to the strong yen.