Toyota has announced the new business structure for Toyota Motor Corporation Australia (TMCA) for 2018 onward following the closure of the Altona, Victoria, Camry plant at the end of 2017.
The automaker this week said it would cut 2,600 workers in Australia, citing high production costs and a strong Australian dollar. The move is part of plans to stop producing cars in the country by 2018 and will reduce its total workforce there to 1,300.
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Toyota said TMCA would consolidate its corporate functions in Melbourne, affecting the national sales and marketing operations currently located in Sydney.
Most of the Altona plant will be reestablished as training and product development facilities.
“Toyota’s decision to stop manufacturing and continue as a national sales and distribution company from 2018 was taken from a long-term point-of-view with the customer firmly in mind, to maintain a sustainable business well into the future,” the automaker said in a statement.
TMCA president Dave Buttner said: “We understand that it is a difficult time for many of our employees and we are committed to supporting them during the transition period. These changes will provide us with the best opportunity to have a strong and sustainable base for the next 50 years and beyond.”
TMC managing officer and East Asia and Oceania Region CEO Toshiro Hidaka said: “We are deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many great people during our first 50 years in Australia and we remain committed to providing the best customer experience.”
Toyota vehicles were first sold in the 1950s and local car assembly – the first outside Japan – commenced in 1963. Toyota subsequently took full control of Australian operations, including its contract assembler, and began full manufacture in 1987, followed soon after the by the first Camry exports to New Zealand. In the 1990s, the company began Camry left-hand drive exports to the Middle East and also KD assembly kits for Asia.
