Toyota confirms October 3 Altona factory closure date

Toyota has announced that it will shut the doors of its Altona manufacturing plant on Tuesday October 3, following 53 years of manufacturing on Australian soil.

The Altona plant has been churning out product for Toyota since 1978, and the closure will be a gradual one with the V6 Aurion ceasing production in August, followed by the Camry Hybrid in September and finally the petrol-powered Camry in October.

Toyota Australia said it will continue to operate both its morning and afternoon shifts up until its closure to ensure that the quotas of 26,600 vehicles for Australian sale and 34,400 for exports to markets such as the Middle East are met, adding up to a total of 61,000 units for the year.

This announcement is one of the last nails in the coffin for Australian auto manufacturing following the announcement earlier this month by Holden that it will shut down its Elizabeth plant in South Australia on October 20, making it the last bastion of large-scale car manufacturing in Australia.

Ford’s Broadmeadows plant closed in October last year, after a long and storied history of manufacturing.

We remain extremely proud of our rich manufacturing history which spans over 50 years.

Toyota Australia president Dave Buttner said that the transition of employment for the Altona workers was the main focus at this stage.

“Our priority over the remaining months is to continue to support our employees in every way possible so that they are well prepared for the future,” he said.

“We remain extremely proud of our rich manufacturing history which spans over 50 years.

“Our employees are committed to producing vehicles of the highest quality as we work towards our goal of ‘last car equals best global car’.”

The number of Toyota Australia employees will be cut from 3900 to around 1300 as a part of the plant closure and consolidation of all corporate functions from Sydney to Melbourne, which will take effect at the start of next year.

The Altona site will be kept by Toyota for new functions, and the head office will remain in Port Melbourne.

The Camry has been Australia’s best selling medium car for the last 23 years.

The plant became the main manufacturing location for the Camry following the closure of the Port Melbourne site in 1994, and through its life has exported cars to the Middle East, Southeast and East Asia.

The Camry has been Australia’s best selling medium car for the last 23 years, and has sold over 900,000 examples in its lifetime, including 30,318 of the Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion in 2016.

Will the next-gen imported Camry live up to the reputation of the Aussie-built stalwart? Tell us what you think in the comments below.