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Toyota Australia to stop local production in 2017

Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota Australia will cease its local production at the end of 2017. Toyota officials addressed workers this afternoon with more than 2500 staff expected to lose their jobs. Further job losses will follow in related component and parts making industries.

Toyota Australia currently makes the Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion models at its Altona factory in Melbourne.

The news was broken by the ABC and has since been confirmed in an official press release from Toyota Australia.

Toyota Australia President and CEO, Max Yasuda, said: “This is devastating news for all of our employees who have dedicated their lives to the company during the past 50 years.

“We did everything that we could to transform our business, but the reality is that there are too many factors beyond our control that make it unviable to build cars in Australia.

“Although the company has made profits in the past, our manufacturing operations have continued to be loss making despite our best efforts.”

Last December Holden announced it would close its local manufacturing operations in 2017. Ford Australia lead the charge off shore in May last year when it too confirmed its withdrawal from local production.

It was only a matter of time until Toyota followed suit, with the Australian car buying public continuing to show a thirst for imported models.

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Toyota Australia sounds ominous warning

Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota has issued an official response to news Holden will stop making cars in Australia by the end of 2017. And it’s not going to fill the local manufacturing industry with much confidence.

Toyota Australia responds to GM Holden announcement

We are saddened to learn of GM Holden’s decision.

This will place unprecedented pressure on the local supplier network and our ability to build cars in Australia.

We will now work with our suppliers, key stakeholders and the government to determine our next steps and whether we can continue operating as the sole vehicle manufacturer in Australia.

We will continue with our transformation journey as planned.

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Carmageddon News Toyota

Toyota leaves TRD out in the cold

TRD Aurion

It is just over 12 months since Toyota Australia was proudly boasting it was launching the first production cars in the world to wear the TRD nameplate. Yesterday the company announced the TRD performance brand will be dropped. Another scalp claimed by Carpocalypse Now (as named by Jalopnik). The decision will take effect at the end of March next year.

“Toyota made a significant financial commitment to TRD vehicle conversion and clearly understood short-term profitability was unlikely,” said David Buttner, senior executive director Toyota Australia.

“However, the perspective has changed for business globally and those new rules require tough decisions for the greater good. This is one of those decisions.”

This decision follows news that Toyota Australia will be increasing prices of its imported models from 1 January 2009 due to the falling Australian dollar.

The TRD operation produced a small product line, consisting of reworked Aurion and HiLux models. To the end of November just 888 TRD vehicles had been sold over its 16 month life cycle. Broken down, those sales amounted to 537 TRD Aurions and, since its April 2008 launch, 351 TRD HiLux models. While not directly comparable, HSV’s year to date sales to the end of November 2008 come to approximately 3500 vehicles. Although, recent sales have been encouraged by some heavy discounting.

TRD employed a small staff of just 17, and all will be kept on staff. Existing customers will continue to be covered by full factory warranty.

Full press statement after the jump.

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