Toyota to close Altona plant in October
Aurion, Camry and Camry Hybrid production to be phased out progressively in final monthsToyota has announced late today that October 3 is the official closure date for its manufacturing plant at Altona, west of Melbourne.
Production of the V6-engined Aurion sedan will end in August, with Camry Hybrid to follow in September, and the conventional Camry (pictured) to soldier on right up to the final operational day. Toyota will run two shifts – morning and afternoon – right up to the end. The company anticipates production will total 61,000 vehicles built at Altona for 2017. Of those, 26,600 will be sold in Australia, and 34,400 units will be exported.
"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," says Toyota Australia President Dave Buttner.
"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 = best global car'."
Along with the plant closure, Toyota will rationalise its corporate functions in Australia, in the migration to a full-line importer. Many staff functions currently based in Toyota's Sydney office will move to Melbourne from January 1, 2018. With many Sydney staff reluctant to move to Melbourne, combined with production staff losses after the plant closure, Toyota is expecting total employee numbers to fall from 3900 to just 1300 by this time next year.
Although the head office will continue to be based in Port Melbourne, Toyota will retain the Altona site for "new and relocated functions".
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