THE new executive car for business, the Avensis plays a key role in Toyota's export programme from Southampton.

Although developed as a strategic model for European markets, it is soon to be exported to Japan.

Southampton docks has been shipping cars from the Burnaston plant since 1998, when it clinched its first deal with Toyota to export more than 20,000 cars a year from the port to southern Europe and Turkey.

Since then the business has grown, exporting more than 40,000 cars last year. Forecast for this year is 45,000 cars, 15,000 of them Corollas, and 30,000 Avensis cars.

Toyota is also taking advantage of a weekly service from Southampton to the port of Vigo, Portugal.

"Toyota chose Southampton docks for export due to its wide range of shipping services to various destinations worldwide, and, secondly, the facilities available at the docks," said brand representative for Toyota Motor Europe Joe Bibby.

Port owner Associated British Ports has provided an export terminal at berth 201/202 in the container port to handle increasing shipments of the Avensis and Corolla.

It is all part of the role the port has developed as the leading centre for import and export of vehicles, currently handling more than 600,000 vehicles a year for most major manufacturers, including Toyota.

Completion of a £4m five-level vehicle terminal in the port last year has provided additional capacity and helped boost the total number of vehicles handled last year by 23 per cent to 685,000.

That included additional new business with Toyota, which added exports of Avensis and Corolla to Portugal.

Meanwhile, Toyota Manufacturing is finalising plans to introduce the Avensis in Toyota's native Japan in the autumn.