Lexi Webster
Toyota Australia, an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, manufactured cars locally from 1963 to 2017. The company's first locally made car, the Toyota Tiara, began production in 1963 at its Port Melbourne plant. In 1978, the Altona plant was established, which played a crucial role in Toyota's Australian manufacturing presence. The Altona plant produced engines and, later, became the site for the production of the Camry Hybrid in 2010. In February 2014, Toyota announced it would cease manufacturing vehicles and engines in Australia by the end of 2017 due to factors such as unfavourable exchange rates, high local manufacturing costs, and intense competition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Toyota Australia was established | 1959 |
| Year Toyota Australia started manufacturing cars locally | 1963 |
| Location of Toyota Australia's first manufacturing plant | Port Melbourne |
| First locally-made car model | Toyota Tiara |
| Year Toyota Australia Altona Plant was established | 1978 |
| Year Toyota Australia ceased manufacturing cars locally | 2017 |
| Year Toyota Australia Altona Plant ceased manufacturing cars | 2014 |
| Year Toyota Australia announced plans to build a Hydrogen Centre | 2019 |
| Year the Hydrogen Centre was commissioned | 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
Toyota Australia's manufacturing history
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 Australia has a long history of manufacturing in the country, beginning in 1963 when Australian Motor Industries (AMI) started assembling Toyota vehicles at its production plant in Port Melbourne. The first locally made car was the Toyota Tiara, which began production in 1963. In 1972, Toyota announced plans to spend $127 million on an engine and gearbox plant.
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 11 December 2009, and was even driven by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
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 plant closed on 3 October 2017, marking the end of Toyota's automobile manufacturing in Australia.
However, Toyota has continued to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining a presence in Australia. In March 2019, the company announced plans to build a Hydrogen Centre at Altona, which was commissioned on 29 March 2021. The Hydrogen Centre has the capacity to produce up to 80 kg of hydrogen per day and includes a refuelling station, an education centre, and a service facility for Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicles. In 2024, Toyota began assembling and distributing stationary hydrogen fuel cell power generators at Altona.
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Altona plant
The Toyota Australia Altona Plant was established in 1978 and played a crucial role in Toyota's Australian manufacturing presence. The Altona plant 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 11 December 2009 and was driven by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
The Altona plant was Toyota Australia's commitment to its employees and ensuring they were well-prepared for their future endeavours. The company retained approximately 1,300 local employees as part of its ongoing operations. In addition, the Altona site houses a Centre of Excellence, which includes a world-class training facility, and an Autodrome, a vehicle proving facility.
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 and 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 site was redeveloped with the former manufacturing building converted into a redevelopment facility, which included vehicle design and testing studios, training rooms, a mock sales dealership, auditorium, and 400-person bistro. In 2024, Toyota began assembling and distributing stationary hydrogen fuel cell power generators at Altona.
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Hydrogen Centre
In March 2019, Toyota announced its 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 and incorporates a commercial-grade hydrogen production, storage, and refuelling facility, 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 in Victoria, and is currently the only Toyota-owned refueller in the state.
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 centre also has a 30kW fuel cell to convert the stored hydrogen into electricity for backup power and to feed into the mains grid. The education centre, which was completed in April 2020, supports the Toyota Mirai, which was released in Australia in April 2021, with an initial allocation of 20 vehicles for organisations and businesses.
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.
Toyota Australia has a long history of manufacturing in the country, beginning in 1963 when Australian Motor Industries (AMI) started assembling Toyota vehicles at its production plant in Port Melbourne. 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.
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Toyota Mirai
Australian Toyotas were previously manufactured locally, with the first local production taking place in 1963. However, in February 2014, Toyota announced that it would cease manufacturing vehicles and engines in Australia by the end of 2017. This decision was influenced by factors such as the unfavourable Australian dollar, high manufacturing costs, and significant competition in the local market.
Now, let's shift our focus to the Toyota Mirai, Toyota's innovative hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). The Mirai is a large four-door sedan that offers a quiet and comfortable driving experience, a premium audio system, and a modern touchscreen interface. Its fuel cell powertrain utilizes hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, to generate electricity and power the electric motor. This process results in zero harmful tailpipe emissions, with water vapour and oxygen as the only by-products.
In Australia, the Toyota Mirai has been introduced as a fleet vehicle for businesses. Currently, it is available in limited numbers for lease to organizations interested in trialling this advanced technology. The Mirai is offered in seven exterior colours, has seating for five occupants, and boasts a spacious boot capacity of 272 litres.
Toyota has been actively developing the necessary infrastructure to support Mirai vehicles in Australia. There is currently one Toyota-owned hydrogen refuelling station in Altona, Victoria, which is also home to the Toyota Australia Altona Plant. This refuelling station is part of Toyota's commitment to a sustainable future with improved mobility options and reduced vehicle CO2 emissions.
In conclusion, while Toyota no longer manufactures vehicles in Australia, the company remains dedicated to bringing its latest innovations to the country, as evidenced by the introduction of the Toyota Mirai. With its advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology, the Mirai represents Toyota's vision for the future of mobility, offering efficient and environmentally friendly transportation options for Australian businesses.
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Toyota's Australian subsidiaries
Toyota Australia is an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. It is headquartered in Port Melbourne, with offices in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, and Darwin.
Toyota Australia has a long history of manufacturing in the country, dating back to 1963 when Australian Motor Industries (AMI) began assembling Toyota vehicles at its production plant in Port Melbourne. The first locally made Toyota car was the Toyota Tiara, produced at the same plant in 1963.
In 1978, Toyota established the Altona plant, which played a crucial role in the company's Australian manufacturing presence. The plant initially 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 driven by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
However, in February 2014, Toyota announced that 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 closure of Toyota Australia's manufacturing operations impacted about 3,000 employees.
Despite ceasing local manufacturing, Toyota has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining a presence in Australia through initiatives such as the Hydrogen Centre. 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 Altona site also houses a Centre of Excellence, which includes a world-class training facility and an Autodrome for vehicle testing.
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Frequently asked questions
Toyota Australia manufactured cars locally from 1963 to 2017. The first locally made car was the Toyota Tiara, which began production in 1963 at the company's Port Melbourne plant. In 2014, Toyota announced it would cease manufacturing vehicles and engines in Australia by the end of 2017 due to the unfavourable Australian dollar, high local manufacturing costs, and intense competition.
In March 2019, Toyota announced plans to build a Hydrogen Centre at Altona, which was commissioned on March 29, 2021. The centre has hydrogen production, storage, and refueling capabilities, along with an education centre and a service facility for Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicles.
Toyota Australia is based in Port Melbourne, with offices in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, and Darwin. It markets Toyota products and manages motorsport, advertising, and business operations for Toyota in Australia. It is also responsible for Lexus vehicles in the country.
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