Toyota Invests in Second European Circular Factory in Poland

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) is expanding its commitment to the circular economy with a new investment in a circular factory located in Wałbrzych, Poland. The facility, announced on February 19, 2026, will process end-of-life vehicles, recovering valuable materials and components for reuse in new vehicle production. Toyota Newsroom

Expanding Circular Economy Operations

The new 25,000 m² facility will be capable of processing approximately 20,000 end-of-life vehicles annually. Automotive World This initiative builds upon Toyota’s existing circular economy efforts, following the launch of a similar plant in Burnaston, United Kingdom, in 2025. The Wałbrzych plant will focus on recovering materials like copper, steel, aluminum, and plastics, as well as assessing components such as batteries and wheels for remanufacturing, repurposing, or recycling. Automotive World

Strategic Location and Existing Infrastructure

Poland was selected as the location for this new circular factory due to its strong market potential for sourcing end-of-life vehicles and the presence of Toyota’s established manufacturing infrastructure in Wałbrzych, which currently produces components for hybrid and conventional powertrains. Automotive World This integration with existing operations is expected to streamline the process of reintroducing recovered materials back into the production cycle.

Toyota’s Broader European Manufacturing Footprint

Toyota currently operates eight manufacturing centers across Europe, building cars, engines, and transmissions. Toyota Europe Approximately 70% of Toyota cars sold in Europe are manufactured at these European production centers. Toyota Europe The company has invested over €10 billion in its European manufacturing operations and has produced over 13 million vehicles to date. Toyota Europe

Future Expansion Plans

According to Leon van der Merwe, Vice President of Circular Economy at Toyota Motor Europe, the Wałbrzych facility serves as a benchmark for the development of circular economy operations, following the success of the Burnaston plant. Automotive World Toyota plans to introduce similar investments in other European markets in the coming years, further expanding its circular economy initiatives. Automotive World