Toyota to End Production in Australia by End of 2017
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Auto Central February 11, 2014; Toyota announced that it will also be ceasing production down-under, following Ford and General Motors and exit car manufacturing in Australia.
Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda illuminated a number of factors that were behind the decision; "We believed that we should continue producing vehicles in Australia, and Toyota and its workforce here made every effort," he said. "However, various negative factors such as an extremely competitive market and a strong Australian dollar, together with forecasts of a reduction in the total scale of vehicle production in Australia, have forced us to make this painful decision." "We did everything that we could to transform our business, but the reality is that there are too many factors beyond our control that make it unviable to build cars in Australia," Toyota Australia President Max Yasuda said in a statement.
Read the complete statement from Toyota below:
Toyota City, Japan, February 10, 2014—Toyota
Motor Corporation (TMC) and Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Ltd.
(TMCA), its production and sales subsidiary in Australia, decided today to
end Toyota vehicle and engine production in Australia by the end of
2017.
Concerning the decision, TMC President Akio Toyoda said:
“We believed that we should continue producing vehicles in
Australia, and Toyota and its workforce here made every effort. However,
various negative factors such as an extremely competitive market and a
strong Australian dollar, together with forecasts of a reduction in the
total scale of vehicle production in Australia, have forced us to make
this painful decision.”
Going forward, Toyota will work
together with employees, business partners, government, local communities
and others regarding specific measures.
Furthermore, Toyota is
considering reducing the scale of the operations of Toyota Technical
Center Asia Pacific Australia Pty. Ltd. (TTCAP-AU), Toyota's development
base in Australia with operations related to Toyota production in
Australia.
Particularly for the TMCA and TTCAP-AU employees who
will be impacted by this decision, Toyota intends to provide the best
support it can, including employment assistance.
Concerning the
future of Toyota's operations in Australia, Toyoda said: “Over the
50 years that we have produced vehicles in Australia, so many people here
have kept us feeling at home, have helped us grow and have supported us.
TMCA will change into a sales and distribution company, but Toyota's
commitment to continue to provide great cars and services to the
Australian people—something we have done for 50 years and will do for
the next 50 years—will not change. Toyota will work hard to
continue its contribution to Australia.”
Press release from Toyota Australia:
TOYOTA AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCES FUTURE PLAN FOR LOCAL MANUFACTURING
This means that local manufacturing of the Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion vehicles, as well as the production of four cylinder engines, will cease by the end of 2017.
The decision was not based on any single factor. The market and economic factors contributing to the decision include the unfavourable Australian dollar that makes exports unviable, high costs of manufacturing and low economies of scale for our vehicle production and local supplier base.
Together with one of the most open and fragmented automotive markets in the world and increased competitiveness due to current and future Free Trade Agreements, it is not viable to continue building cars in Australia.
Toyota Australia President and CEO, Max Yasuda, was joined by Toyota Motor Corporation President and CEO, Akio Toyoda, as he made the announcement to employees late this afternoon.
"This is devastating news for all of our employees who have dedicated their lives to the company during the past 50 years," Mr Yasuda said.
"While we have been undertaking the enormous task of transforming our business during the past two years, our people have joined us on the same journey, which makes it even more difficult to announce this decision
"We did everything that we could to transform our business, but the reality is that there are too many factors beyond our control that make it unviable to build cars in Australia.
"Although the company has made profits in the past, our manufacturing operations have continued to be loss making despite our best efforts.
"Our focus will now be to work with our employees, suppliers, government and the unions as we transition to a national sales and distribution company. Support services will be available to our employees and we will do everything that we can to minimise the impact of this decision on our employees and suppliers."
Mr Yasuda said approximately 2,500 employees directly involved with manufacturing will be impacted when the plant stops building cars in 2017.
There will also be an impact on the company's corporate divisions, which will be studied over the coming months to determine what roles and functions will remain in the future.
Mr Yasuda said that Toyota was also committed to providing support to the industry as it prepares for the end of vehicle manufacturing in Australia.
"We will work with our key stakeholders to determine how to provide the best support to our employees, suppliers and local communities during the coming years," Mr Yasuda said.
"Not only do we need to ensure our local suppliers and employees can plan for their future, we also need to make sure that we continue to produce high quality vehicles and engines for our domestic and export customers."
Toyota Australia will continue to be involved in its local communities and employ thousands of people both directly and indirectly via its extensive dealership network.
It is the company's intention to import the Camry and Aurion vehicles beyond 2017, along with the entire range of Toyota passenger and commercial vehicles.