Ruqayyah Snyder
Toyota Camry is a popular car model that has been manufactured and sold in Australia. In fact, Australia was the first country outside Japan to build Toyota engines, starting in 1979, and export the Camry. The car model has been produced at Toyota's Australian Motor Industries facility in Port Melbourne, Victoria, and later at the Altona plant in the Melbourne suburb of Altona, which opened in 1994. However, in February 2014, it was announced that Toyota would cease manufacturing vehicles and engines in Australia by the end of 2017 due to unfavourable economic conditions and high competition. Despite the end of local manufacturing, Toyota has confirmed its commitment to the Camry in Australia, ensuring that the model will continue to be available in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Toyota Camry manufacturing in Australia | Toyota Australia manufactured the Camry locally from 1987 to 2017. |
| Locations | Port Melbourne (1987-1994), Altona (from 1994) |
| Production end | Toyota Australia ceased manufacturing vehicles and engines in 2017. |
| Reason for end of production | Unfavourable Australian dollar, high costs, and competition in the local market. |
| Export markets | The Middle East was the largest export market, with 1,245,914 Australian-built cars exported there. |
| Total production | As of October 3, 2017: 2,117,808 vehicles plus 50,296 hybrid variants, totaling 2,168,104. |
| Export history | Australia was the first country outside Japan to export the Camry. |
| Current status | Toyota has confirmed its commitment to the Camry in Australia, with no plans to stop selling it in the country. |
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What You'll Learn
The Toyota Camry is no longer manufactured in Australia
Toyota Australia has a long history of manufacturing vehicles in the country, dating back to 1963. The company's Altona manufacturing plant, located in the Melbourne suburb of Altona, played a crucial role in this endeavour. The plant opened in 1994, replacing the previous Port Melbourne site, and became a hub for producing popular models such as the Camry and Aurion.
The Toyota Camry, in particular, holds a significant place in the history of Australian automotive manufacturing. It was the first Camry made outside of Japan, with local manufacture beginning in 1987 at the Australian Motor Industries facility in Port Melbourne. The Altona plant also contributed significantly to the Camry's production, with Altona-built engines powering Camrys for both the local market and export markets, including Thailand and Malaysia.
Despite the end of local manufacturing, Toyota remains committed to the Camry in Australia. Exports to Australia will continue, ensuring that the popular mid-sized sedan remains available for Australian consumers.
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Camry production ended in 2017
Toyota Camry, a four-door sedan, was first introduced in 1980 and has since gone through multiple redesigns and updates. The latest generation, the XV70 Camry, was introduced at the 2017 North American International Auto Show and marked a significant change for the Australian market.
Toyota Australia had a long history of producing the Camry, with local manufacturing spanning several decades. However, this came to an end in 2017 with the closure of the Camry plant in Altona, Victoria. The Altona plant had been responsible for producing Camrys specifically for the Australian market, but that role transitioned to the Aichi plant in Japan with the introduction of the XV70 model.
The XV70 Camry was launched in Japan in July 2017, with North American production also starting the same month. While the Altona plant closure marked the end of local Camry production in Australia, the vehicle continued to be an important offering in the Australian market. The XV70 Camry was imported from Japan and launched in Australia in November 2017, ensuring that Australian consumers could still purchase the popular sedan.
The end of local production in Australia was part of a broader shift in Toyota's manufacturing strategy. The company had been phasing out local production in Australia for several years, with the Altona plant closure being the final step. This decision was driven by a desire to consolidate manufacturing operations and improve efficiency. Despite the end of local production, Toyota remained committed to the Australian market, ensuring that vehicles like the Camry continued to be available to Australian consumers.
The Camry has undergone various updates and facelifts since 2017 to maintain its competitiveness in the mid-sized sedan segment. Even as other automakers phased out their sedans, Toyota continued to invest in the Camry, with plans for a redesigned model in 2025. The popularity of the Camry in Australia, where it held a significant market share, reinforced Toyota's commitment to the model. While production and sales in the Japanese market ended in 2023 due to poor sales, Toyota assured that there were "no plans to stop selling Camry in Australia."
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Camry was the first Toyota hybrid car in Australia
The Toyota Camry has been a fixture on Australian roads since its introduction in 1987. While the car is still assembled in Japan, it has been a popular choice for Australian buyers, with the country accounting for a significant share of its exports. In fact, in 2018, Toyota sold 15,269 examples of the current-generation Camry in Australia, its first full year on sale.
The Camry has a rich history in Australia, including a stint as the only Aussie-built car offered as a hybrid from 1987 until 2017. The hybrid model, in particular, has gained traction in the Australian market, with the 2025 model being the first hybrid-only version of the car. This new hybrid-only model is more efficient, quieter, smoother, and cheaper to run than its predecessors. It features a 2.5-litre petrol engine paired with Toyota's new "fifth-generation" hybrid system.
The Camry has also been a prominent player in Australia's medium car segment, often outselling its rivals. In 2023, it held a 70.5% share of the mainstream mid-sized sedan segment, with 9538 sales, outperforming the second-place Mazda 6 by a significant margin. However, in recent years, the Camry has faced competition from electric vehicles, such as the Tesla Model 3, which surpassed it as Australia's best-selling sedan in 2022.
Despite the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, Toyota remains committed to the Camry in Australia. The company has confirmed that it will continue exports to the country, even as it ends production for the Japanese market. The Camry's enduring popularity in Australia, coupled with its transition to a hybrid-only model, highlights its adaptability to the evolving preferences and needs of Australian drivers.
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Camry was Australia's best-selling mid-sized sedan in 2022
The Toyota Camry has been Australia's best-selling mid-sized sedan for multiple years. In 2017, it celebrated 22 consecutive years as Australia's best-selling mid-sized car, with sales of 700,000 locally built four-cylinder Camrys. In 2018, its first full year on sale, Toyota sold 15,269 examples of the current-generation Camry in Australia.
In 2022, the Camry held a 70.5 per cent share of the mainstream mid-sized sedan segment in Australia. Toyota sold 9538 Camrys, while the second-place Mazda 6 sold 1511, giving it an 11.2 per cent segment share. The Camry's sales figures were surpassed by the Tesla Model 3, which sold 10,877 units, accounting for a 44.2 per cent share of its segment.
The Camry's success in Australia can be attributed to its expressive styling and the introduction of a sports version specifically designed for local drivers. Additionally, Toyota's commitment to the Australian market, including local production and hybrid offerings, has contributed to the Camry's popularity.
Globally, the Toyota Camry has also achieved remarkable sales performance. In 2024, it was the best-selling mid-size car worldwide, with 579,733 units sold, representing a 7.2 per cent segment share.
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Camry was the tenth vehicle type produced by Toyota Australia
Toyota Australia has a long history of manufacturing vehicles in the country, dating back to 1963. Over the years, they have produced various popular models, including the Tiara, Corona, Crown, Corolla, Avalon, and, of course, the Camry.
The Toyota Camry, in particular, holds a significant place in the history of Toyota Australia. It was the tenth vehicle type produced by Toyota Australia in its 54 years of manufacturing since 1963. The Camry's production in Australia began in 1987 at the Port Melbourne facility, which was later replaced by the Altona manufacturing site in 1995.
The Australian-made Camry played a crucial role in Toyota's success in the country. It was well-received by consumers, and its popularity contributed to Toyota's dominance in the Australian automotive market. In fact, Australia was the first country outside Japan to export the Camry, highlighting the importance of the Australian market for this model.
The Camry's production in Australia also led to significant milestones. In 2005, the ten-millionth worldwide Camry was built at the Altona plant, showcasing the country's contribution to the model's global success. Additionally, the first locally-made Australian Toyota Hybrid Camry was completed and revealed to the public on December 11, 2009, marking a new chapter in the country's automotive industry.
Despite the eventual closure of manufacturing operations in Australia by 2017, the Camry continued to be a significant model for Toyota in the Australian market. Even after local production ceased, Toyota remained committed to the Camry in Australia, ensuring its availability to Australian consumers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Toyota Camry has been manufactured in Australia. In 1987, Toyota Australia released the second generation of the Camry, which was the first Camry made outside Japan. However, in 2014, Toyota announced that it would cease manufacturing vehicles and engines in Australia by the end of 2017.
Aside from Australia, the Toyota Camry is also manufactured in the United States and China. The first wholly-owned Toyota plant in the US, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, began producing the Camry in 1988.
Toyota ended manufacturing in Australia due to several factors, including the unfavourable Australian dollar, high production costs, and high competition in a relatively small local market.
Yes, the Toyota Camry continues to be sold in Australia, despite the end of local manufacturing. Toyota has stated that there are "no plans to stop selling Camry in Australia".
