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Toyota Australia is set to export its 500,000th vehicle to Saudi Arabia tomorrow (21 October).
The milestone Toyota Camry is due to be shipped from Melbourne on as one of about 1,500 locally-built Camry and Aurion vehicles leaving aboard the Neptune Leader.
The plant in Altona produces hybrid, I4 and V6 Camry sedans for domestic and export markets.
Toyota Australia executive director Chris Harrod said the company began exporting vehicles to the Middle East in 1996 and over 870,000 have so far been exported, helping the Japanese firm overtake local General Motors unit Holden as the country’s top vehicle exporter.
“Camry is now the number one selling passenger vehicle in the Middle East,” Harrod added. The model is a favourite amongst taxi drivers in the region.
Harrod said over 60% of vehicles built at Altona were for export, mostly to the Middle East.
“In the Middle East we have representatives located in Bahrain who act as our eyes and ears and help to maintain relationships with local distributors and customers.”
Toyota Australia launched its export programme in 1986 when it exported a small shipment of Corona wagons to neighbouring New Zealand.
In 2008 a record 101,668 locally-built vehicles, worth A$1.3bn, were exported.
Despite the global economic downturn, the 2010 export tally is expected to be over 80,
