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Toyota Australia is an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. It manufactured cars locally from 1963 to 2017, making it the country's biggest vehicle manufacturer for a decade. However, in 2014, Toyota announced it would cease manufacturing vehicles and engines in Australia by the end of 2017 due to unfavourable economic conditions. This decision resulted in the launch of the DRIVE employee transition program to support impacted workers. While Toyota no longer produces cars in Australia, it continues to have a presence in the country through its dealer network and plans for new initiatives like the Hydrogen Centre in Altona.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Toyota Australia's base | Port Melbourne |
| Offices in | Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin |
| Commenced operations | 1959 |
| Manufacturing in Australia | 1963-2017 |
| First locally-made Australian Toyota | Camry Hybrid, completed in 2009 |
| Toyota Australia Altona Plant established | 1978 |
| First exported car | Toyota Corona wagon in 1986 to New Zealand |
| Toyota Australia employees | ~3,000 |
| Toyota Australia President | Dave Buttner |
| Number of employees who took part in the DRIVE program | 2,200+ |
| Year of the end of car manufacturing in Australia | 2017 |
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What You'll Learn
Toyota Australia's Altona Plant
The Altona plant produced the Camry, Aurion, and Corolla models for domestic sale in Australasia and export to the Middle East. Until the early 2000s, exports also went to East and Southeast Asia. The plant also manufactured the Avalon between 2000 and 2005. In 2005, the ten-millionth worldwide Camry was produced at Altona, and in 2006, the plant celebrated another milestone with the 500,000th Toyota Australia vehicle export.
In 2009, the Altona plant commenced full-scale production of the Australian Camry Hybrid, with the first locally-made hybrid model completed and revealed to the public on December 11, 2009. This event marked a significant moment in the history of the Australian automotive industry.
In February 2014, Toyota announced its decision to close the Altona manufacturing plant by the end of 2017, citing the unfavourable Australian dollar, high local manufacturing costs, and intense competition in the local market. The closure impacted about 3,900 employees, and Toyota launched the DRIVE program to assist affected workers in preparing for their future careers.
Following the closure of the Altona plant, Toyota announced plans to repurpose the site. In 2019, the company revealed its intention to build a Hydrogen Centre at Altona, with support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The Hydrogen Centre was commissioned on March 29, 2021, featuring hydrogen production, storage, and refuelling capabilities, along with an education centre and a service facility for Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicles. The hydrogen refuelling station is the first of its kind to be made available to the public in Victoria.
The Altona site also houses a Centre of Excellence, which includes a world-class training facility, and an Autodrome, a vehicle proving facility. These initiatives demonstrate Toyota's commitment to maintaining a presence in Australia, even after the cessation of local manufacturing.
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Toyota's Australian manufacturing presence
Toyota Australia is an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. It is based in Port Melbourne, with offices in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, and Darwin.
Toyota has had a long history of manufacturing in Australia, beginning in 1963 when Australian Motor Industries (AMI) started assembling Toyota vehicles at its production plant in Port Melbourne. The first model to roll off the production line was the Toyota Tiara. Over the years, Toyota Australia has produced various models, including the Corona, Crown, Corolla, Camry, Avalon, and Aurion.
The Altona plant, established in 1978, played a crucial role in Toyota's Australian manufacturing presence. It produced engines and, later, became the site for the production of the Camry Hybrid in 2010. The first locally-made Australian Toyota Hybrid Camry was unveiled to the public on December 11, 2009, and was even driven by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
However, in February 2014, Toyota announced it would cease manufacturing vehicles and engines in Australia by the end of 2017. The decision was influenced by factors such as the unfavourable Australian dollar, high local manufacturing costs, and intense competition in a relatively small local market. The company faced challenges due to free trade agreements, particularly with Thailand, which had much lower labour costs.
Toyota Australia's closure of its manufacturing operations impacted about 3,000 employees. The company offered support through its internal 'DRIVE' employee transition program, which provided career management and transition support services to help impacted employees prepare for their future endeavours.
Despite ending local manufacturing, Toyota maintains a presence in Australia through its dealer network and ongoing commitment to providing a diverse range of vehicles to the Australian market. The Altona plant continues to house expanded design and engineering capabilities, and the company has also established a Hydrogen Centre at Altona, incorporating a hydrogen production, storage, and refuelling facility, along with an education centre.
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Toyota Australia's employee transition program
Toyota Australia is an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, which has been operating in the country since 1959. The company manufactured cars locally from 1963 until 2017, with its plant in Altona, Melbourne, producing engines and vehicles such as the Camry, Aurion, and Corolla.
In 2014, Toyota Australia announced that it would cease manufacturing operations in the country by the end of 2017 due to unfavourable economic conditions. This decision directly impacted around 2,500 jobs. In response, Toyota Australia launched the 'DRIVE' employee transition program to support its workers.
The DRIVE program, which stands for Dedicated, Ready, Individual, Vocational, and Energised, is designed to help employees transition into new work. It offers a comprehensive range of career management and transition support services. This includes setting individual career goals, creating career plans, providing job skills training and further education opportunities, and offering assistance in exploring other industries. The program also focuses on language, literacy, numeracy, and computer skills, as well as providing practical job-seeking support such as resume writing, networking, and interview techniques.
More than 2,200 employees have participated in the DRIVE program, and many have taken the opportunity to develop new skills to start their own small businesses in diverse fields. The program reflects Toyota Australia's commitment to its employees and ensuring they are well-prepared for their future endeavours.
Toyota Australia has retained approximately 1,300 local employees as part of its ongoing operations, and the company continues to be a leading automotive brand in the country.
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Toyota's Australian export orders
Toyota Australia, an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, manufactured cars locally from 1963 until 2017. The company marketed Toyota products and managed motorsport, advertising, and business operations for Toyota in Australia. It was also responsible for Lexus vehicles in Australia.
Toyota Australia's first locally made car was the Toyota Tiara, which began production in 1963 at the company's Port Melbourne plant. Over the years, Toyota Australia expanded its operations and began producing various other models, including the Corona, Crown, Corolla, Camry, Avalon, and Aurion.
In 2013, Toyota Australia secured a large export order that helped sustain its local operations. The company shipped seven out of ten Camrys to the Middle East over the past 20 years. However, despite their efforts, Toyota Australia ultimately had to cease its manufacturing operations in the country in 2017. This decision was influenced by various factors, including the unfavourable Australian dollar, high costs of local manufacturing, and strong competition in a relatively small local market.
The closure of Toyota Australia's manufacturing operations impacted around 3,000 employees. To support its departing employees, the company launched the DRIVE program, which offered career management and transition support services, including skills development and job-seeking assistance.
Despite the end of local manufacturing, Toyota remains committed to the Australian market. The company continues to retain a significant presence in the country, with plans to expand its design and engineering capabilities and develop a Centre of Excellence at its Altona plant. Toyota also intends to provide the Australian market with a diverse range of high-quality vehicles.
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Toyota Australia's Hydrogen Centre
Toyota Australia is an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. It manufactured cars locally from 1963 until 2017. In March 2019, Toyota announced plans to build a Hydrogen Centre at Altona, partly funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The Hydrogen Centre was commissioned on 29 March 2021.
The Hydrogen Centre has the capacity to produce up to 80 kg of hydrogen per day through the electrolysis of water using electricity from solar panels, battery storage, or the power grid. The hydrogen refuelling station is the first of its kind in Victoria and is currently the only Toyota-owned refueller in the state. The Centre also has a fuel cell to convert stored hydrogen into electricity for backup power and to feed into the mains grid.
The education centre at the Hydrogen Centre was completed in April 2020. It supports the Toyota Mirai, which was released in Australia in April 2021, with an initial allocation of 20 vehicles for organisations and businesses. Toyota previously imported 10 first-generation Mirai vehicles for a loan program between 2018 and 2019. The Mirai offers modern conveniences, a premium audio system, and a large touchscreen for multimedia, phone, and navigation. It also includes safety features such as stolen vehicle tracking and automatic collision notifications.
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Frequently asked questions
Toyota Australia manufactured cars locally from 1963 until 2017.
Many Toyota vehicles were built at either Altona or Port Melbourne.
The list of cars built in Australia includes the Tiara, Corona, Crown, Corolla, Avalon, and Camry.
Toyota's decision to cease manufacturing in Australia was due to an unfavourable Australian dollar, high costs of local manufacturing, and high competition in a small local market.
