Omari Gates
Toyota Australia was an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, which marketed Toyota products and managed motorsport, advertising and business operations for Toyota in Australia. Toyota Australia manufactured cars locally from 1963 until 2017, when it ceased manufacturing vehicles and engines in Australia. In this paragraph, we will explore where Toyota cars are made for the Australian market.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Toyota Australia's base | Port Melbourne |
| Offices | Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin |
| Local manufacturing period | 1963-2017 |
| Number of locally built engines | 2,535,963 |
| Highest production year | 148,931 (2007) |
| Highest production month | 15,355 (October 2007) |
| Biggest export market | Middle East (1,245,914 cars) |
| Number of vehicles exported from Australia | 1,324,991 |
| Number of vehicles sold in Australia | 6.5 million+ |
| Number of RAV4 sales in Australia (2024) | 58,718 |
| Number of HiLux deliveries in Australia (2024) | 53,499 |
| Location of production of Australian-market HiLux | Samrong plant in Samut Prakan province, Thailand |
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What You'll Learn
- Toyota Australia manufactured cars locally from 1963 to 2017
- The Altona-built Camry was Toyota Australia's most successful model
- The Australian-market HiLux is manufactured in Thailand
- Toyota Australia has held the largest market share for 18 consecutive years
- Toyota Australia ended 54 years of manufacturing in 2017
Toyota Australia manufactured cars locally from 1963 to 2017
Toyota Australia, an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, manufactured cars locally from 1963 to 2017. The company commenced operations in 1959 when Toyota Land Cruisers were imported by Thiess Toyota, a joint venture between Thiess and Toyota, for the Snowy Mountains Scheme. By 1963, assembly of Toyota vehicles in Australia by Australian Motor Industries (AMI) had begun at a production plant in Port Melbourne.
In 1972, Toyota bought out British Leyland's interest in AMI and announced plans to spend $127 million on an engine and gearbox plant. The Toyota Australia Altona Plant was established and began the production of engines in 1978, following the progressive growth of AMI. In 1980, Toyota bought Thiess' share of Thiess Toyota. After Toyota's products came in for heavy criticism regarding their handling, a handling package developed specifically for the Australian market was introduced in 1981.
In 1987, under the leadership of Robert Johnston, Toyota Australia and Holden formed United Australian Automobile Industries in response to the Button car plan. This resulted in Toyota Australia building Holden Apollo and Holden Novas at Altona that were badge-engineered Camrys and Corollas. In exchange, Holden built Toyota Lexcen, a rebadged Commodore. The one-millionth locally built Toyota was produced in 1992, and in 1994, all vehicle manufacturing operations were moved from Port Melbourne to Altona. The two-millionth locally built Toyota was produced in 2004.
In February 2014, it was announced that Toyota would cease manufacturing vehicles and engines in Australia by the end of 2017 due to the unfavourable Australian dollar making exports non-viable, the high cost of local manufacture, and increased competition in a relatively small local market. The plant closed on 3 October 2017, marking the end of Toyota's automobile manufacturing in Australia. The company retained its head office in Port Melbourne and the Altona plant for other functions, including a Centre of Excellence and a vehicle proving facility known as the Autodrome.
Toyota Australia has held the largest market share of Australia's new car market for eighteen consecutive years from 2003 to 2020, excluding Lexus sales. The company has also competed in the Australian Touring Car Championship and the Australian Rally Championship.
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The Altona-built Camry was Toyota Australia's most successful model
Toyota Australia is an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. It manufactured cars locally from 1963 until 2017. In February 2014, Toyota Australia announced its decision to close its manufacturing plant by the end of 2017 and become a national sales and distribution company.
The first locally made Australian Toyota Hybrid Camry was completed and revealed to the public on 11 December 2009, driven by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. In April 2012, Toyota retrenched 350 workers and received criticism for the manner in which the process was carried out, including deploying security guards to escort sacked staff. The plant closed on 3 October 2017, marking the end of Toyota's automobile manufacturing in Australia.
Toyota Australia President Dave Buttner paid tribute to employees past and present, stating that it was their dedication that had helped Toyota become a byword for quality, reliability, and trust in Australia. He assured departing employees that the company would continue to support them beyond that day.
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The Australian-market HiLux is manufactured in Thailand
Toyota Australia is an Australian subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota. It manufactured cars locally from 1963 to 2017. In 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 impacting exports, the high costs of local manufacturing, and intense competition in a relatively small local market.
Despite Toyota's long history of local manufacturing in Australia, the Australian-market HiLux has been manufactured in Thailand, specifically at the Japanese giant's Samrong plant in Samut Prakan province. This plant has been producing the best-selling Toyota ute since 1975, serving markets such as Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Thailand is a significant production base for Toyota, with the country exporting more vehicles from Australia than any other manufacturer.
The HiLux is a popular model in Australia, with Toyota recording 53,499 HiLux deliveries in the country in a single year. The Australian specification HiLux offers unique features such as an upgraded towing capacity, a heavy-duty suspension setup, and various engine options catering to different markets.
In 2023, Toyota launched the HiLux Champ in Thailand, marking the debut of an entry-level one-tonne ute for the Japanese brand. Priced competitively, the HiLux Champ offers a range of powertrain and transmission options, catering to both workhorse and recreational applications.
The Australian-market HiLux's manufacturing in Thailand highlights the global nature of automotive production, where vehicles are often assembled in locations that differ from their country of origin.
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Toyota Australia has held the largest market share for 18 consecutive years
Toyota Australia, a subsidiary of the Japanese car manufacturer Toyota, has held the largest market share for 18 consecutive years from 2003 to 2020. It has been the leading automotive brand in Australia, with Australians buying more than 6.5 million Toyota vehicles.
Toyota Australia's success can be traced back to 1958 when the first Japanese light car, a Datsun, arrived in Australia. This marked the beginning of a significant shift in the Australian car market, which was previously dominated by US and UK brands. By 1968, a dozen Japanese brands had established themselves in the country, with Toyota at the forefront.
Toyota was the first Japanese manufacturer to switch to local assembly in Australia, with the Corona being assembled in Melbourne as early as 1966. This was followed by the Crown in the same year and the Corolla in 1968, just one year after its Japanese launch, making Australia the first overseas country to assemble the Corolla.
Toyota Australia began manufacturing cars locally in 1963 at its production plant in Port Melbourne. The first vehicle produced was the Toyota Tiara. Over the years, Toyota Australia expanded its operations, and by 1978, the Altona Plant was established, producing engines for the local and export markets.
In 2009, Toyota Australia achieved another milestone with the production of the first locally-made Australian Toyota Hybrid Camry, driven by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. However, in 2014, Toyota announced it would cease manufacturing in Australia by the end of 2017 due to unfavourable economic conditions and high competition. Despite this, Toyota Australia has remained committed to the Australian market, retaining employees and dealers across the country.
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Toyota Australia ended 54 years of manufacturing in 2017
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 manufactured cars locally from 1963 until 2017, ending 54 years of manufacturing in the country. The company commenced operations in 1959 when Toyota Land Cruisers were imported by Thiess Toyota, a joint venture between Thiess and Toyota, for the Snowy Mountains Scheme. By 1963, assembly of Toyota vehicles in Australia by Australian Motor Industries (AMI) had begun at a production plant in Port Melbourne. The Toyota Tiara was the first vehicle produced at this plant.
Toyota Australia's Altona Plant opened in 1994, replacing the previous Port Melbourne site. The Altona plant produced engines and vehicles, including the Camry, Aurion, and Corolla. The Camry was the most successful model produced in the country, with a total production of 2,168,104 vehicles as of October 3, 2017.
In February 2014, Toyota Australia announced its decision to close its manufacturing plant by the end of 2017, citing reasons such as the unfavourable Australian dollar, high costs of local manufacturing, and high competition in the local market. The company's closure ceremony was held on October 3, 2017, with approximately 3,000 people in attendance, including employees, suppliers, dealers, and officials.
Following the end of manufacturing operations, Toyota Australia transitioned to a national sales and distribution company, retaining its headquarters in Melbourne and some functions at the Altona site, including a Centre of Excellence and vehicle proving facility. The company also launched the DRIVE employee transition program to assist impacted employees with career management and transition support services.
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Frequently asked questions
Toyota cars were manufactured in Australia from 1963 until 2017. The Toyota Australia Altona Plant was established in 1978 and was responsible for the production of engines. However, in 2017, Toyota ended its 54 years of manufacturing in Australia, with the Altona plant closing down.
Toyota cars sold in Australia are now produced in various locations outside of the country. For example, the Australian-market HiLux is manufactured in Thailand, while all Australian RAV4 models are built in Japan.
Toyota's decision to cease manufacturing in Australia was influenced by several factors, including the unfavourable Australian dollar, high local manufacturing costs, and significant competition in the relatively small local market.
