Carmaker TPCA: five successful years in the Czech Republic

12 Mar. 2007 | CzechInvest | The Kolin-based carmaker TPCA – Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile – is celebrating the fifth anniversary of it establishment and two years since the start of full production with full capacity of 300,000 cars annually.

“The joint-venture project of Toyota and PSA Peugeot Citroën for the manufacture of automobiles – TPCA – is currently the largest completed foreign investment in the Czech Republic,” says Tomas Hruda, CEO of CzechInvest, adding: “In addition, we can add to this other supplier projects that have arisen thanks to this investment.” According to economists’ estimates, TPCA contributed 1.5-2% to GDP growth in the Czech Republic in 2005. The carmaker annually purchases from its suppliers components worth CZK 20 billion and its annual turnover in the amount of CZK 50 billion is also undeniably beneficial to the domestic economy.

Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile was established as a joint-venture of Toyota Motor Corporation and PSA Peugeot Citroën, thanks to which the most modern and efficient technologies in the automotive industry are being used.

“We are very satisfied with the implementation of the project. It is functioning according to plan, the launch of full production was exactly on time, we employ a skilled workforce and we positively appreciate the cooperation with suppliers. The result is quality cars under three brands which are experiencing good sales on the market,” says Yasuhiro Takahashi, president of TPCA. “For the future, we are focusing on stabilizing production, human resources and long-term reduction of costs. We are working according to the technology of the Toyota Production System; continual improvement (Kaizen) and high demands for quality are characteristic of our work.”

TPCA’s expectations have been fulfilled in the area of business quality. Domestic suppliers are achieving a very high level of production quality and are able to meet TPCA’s requirements without any problems. During construction of the TPCA plant, the Czech Republic became a member of the EU, which significantly simplified the logistics and international trade on which TPCA depends. The stable currency and low rate of inflation allow the company to effectively make long-term economic plans.

After five years, TPCA considers its selection of the Czech Republic for construction of its plant as very good and plans to remain in the Czech Republic indefinitely, thus even after expiration of investment incentives. The parent companies Toyota and PSAPeugeot Citroën have declared their satisfaction with the results of the TPCA project and interest in long-term operation in the Czech Republic. TPCA’s next phase of development is to “set down roots” in the region and in the Czech Republic.