Toyota sets Aussie export record

Toyota Australia has broken its own 2003 record for Australian-built car exports.

The previous record of 66,247 vehicles was easily surpassed this year, says the maker. The latest shipment of Toyota Camrys to the Middle East on December 18 took this year's total to almost 69,000 cars.

Toyota Australia divisional manager export Scott Grant said that the 2005 export figure was an increase of 5.5 per cent over last year and 4.2 per cent up on the 2003 record.

According to the company, the value of Toyota’s vehicle exports to Australia’s balance of trade is more than $1.3 billion.

“Demand for Camry has been very strong all year in our export markets and we expect that trend will continue next year as well,” said Mr Grant.

“We will introduce a new model at our Altona plant in Melbourne mid-year, but there will be no slowdown in exports and we anticipate another record in 2006.

More than 90 per cent of Australian Camry exports are left-hand drive vehicles to the Middle East. Camry is the top-selling passenger vehicle in Saudi Arabia.

Toyota exports Camry to more than 20 countries, including South Africa, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

“Toyota Australia’s export success is attributable to the hard work of our employees, suppliers, transportation companies, shipping companies and port operations and the pursuit of continuous improvement in our levels of quality and cost performance,” Mr Grant said.