Toyota plans to start construction of the design centre by the end of 1998 with a total investment of 90 million francs, or about 2.1 billion yen.The new company, tentatively named Toyota Europe Design Development SARL, will develop exterior and interior designs, colour design, work up models and conduct design surveys.

Design functions of the European office of Creation (EPOC), part of NV Toyota Motor Europe Marketing & Engineering SA, will be integrated into the new French centre.

The centre will create 20 to 30 jobs, Toyota said.

Toyota has design units in its headquarters in Toyota City in western Japan, in Tokyo, and in Newport Beach, California.