TRD Aurion exports

Holden has grabbed all the limelight with the announcement of its Commodore-based G8 range going on sale in the USA, but Holden is not the only CBU vehicle exporter in Australia.

Toyota has its own export program and, just as Holden does, exports locally manufactured cars in significant numbers to the Middle East, but Toyota exports to America do not appear to be on the agenda.

The Carsales Network put the question to David Buttner, Toyota Australia's Senior Executive Director for Sales and Marketing, what are the prospects for the high-performance Aurion following the Pontiac G8 across the Pacific?

Buttner looked as if the thought hadn't occurred to him previously and turned to one of his colleagues for confirmation that the idea had not been canvassed as yet, but did say: "The Middle East has expressed interest".

For Toyota in Australia, Buttner tells us, finding export markets for the TRD Aurion is not a particular priority.

"We just want to establish the TRD brand," he said. "We need to get people turned on to [the fact] Toyota has a performance brand in Australia."

After considering the proposition of exporting the TRD Aurion to America, Buttner said: "We wouldn't be too worried about it, with the exchange rate the way it is".

But nothing is forever...

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