Toyota cracks the magic milion vehicle exports

Ford and Holden may be struggling to find export markets for their cars but Toyota Australia has its foot on the gas.

The company announced this week it had become the first local manufacturer to export more than one million vehicles. Latest figures show that Toyota Australia’s one millionth export vehicle was shipped to the Middle East earlier this month.

The company started exporting vehicles to New Zealand in 1986. Ten years later it expanded its exports to the Middle East and now ships vehicles to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen in addition to New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands.

Toyota Australia exported 59,943 Camry and Aurion vehicles in 2011 and is on track to exceed that this year with exports to the end of July standing at 42,142 vehicles. 

Chris Harrod, Toyota Australia's executive director of manufacturing, said reaching one million exports was an important milestone for the company.

“We are extremely proud of our ability to build cars that not only suit the needs of our local customers but also those in the Middle East and our other export markets.

“Although the automotive industry is facing challenges in Australia, it is important that we continue to focus on our export program and explore new export opportunities as part of our overall business strategy.”

The news comes two weeks after Toyota Australia announced a recall of nearly 20,000 locally built Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion vehicles to rectify a possible fuel-line fault. It also comes soon after Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced that it had produced its 200-millionth vehicle in June, 76 years and 11 months after the company began making vehicles.

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