Toyota closes a plant in Australia

4 October 2017

The Japanese company followed Ford and Holden

The Australian automotive market has always differed originality. It sold of the original model Ford and Holden, which was no longer available in any country in the world except several countries in the Middle East. And what special body type — s... These cars pick-up trucks are sometimes equipped with 8-cylinder engines, outstanding under 400 HP. But to this point things have changed, and companies one after another began to close a local factory. Now stop your plant said Toyota.

We are talking about a production site in Altona, Melbourne. This plant operated for the past 54 years. It was released 3 541 115 machines. The latest models off the Assembly line were Camry and Aurion (which, by the way, is the Australian version of the Camry).

Usually manufacturers are closing factories during the crisis and falling sales, but in Australia there is a completely different situation. Overall sales of passenger cars is at a constant level. Moreover, by June 2017 there was a record sale in the history! In this case the market leader is Toyota, which grew by 11 %. Why in this case to close the factory?

According to the official version, to blame the rising cost of production. Japanese companies more profitable to import their cars from other countries than to produce them in Australia. Also among the negative factors noted fragmentation of the market and increasing competition from other companies.

Due to the closure of production without work there are about 2500 employees Toyotas, but the Japanese company will take active part in their future. For three years, Toyota provides free services to retrain and search for suitable vacancies. Approximately 1 300 people will get jobs in offices and Toyota workshops in different cities of Australia. The headquarters of the company will now be in Melbourne.

Toyota is not the first car company that closed its Australian factory. Earlier proceedings in this country turned to Ford, and later this month, on the same step will be decided and Holden  (brand of General Motors). Thus, already in the near future in Australia will be only imported cars.