Toyota To Continue Production In Australia Beyond 2016

By Neville D'Cruz MELBOURNE, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- Toyota has pledged to continue building cars in Australia beyond 2016, after Holden this week could not guarantee the continuation of the Commodore brand beyond six years. Toyota sales and marketing director Matthew Callachor told News Limited the company was launching new versions of its locally produced medium-sized cars, the Camry and Camry Hybrid, and the Aurion large car. "It is not generally recognised that Toyota Australia secured its investment for the new-model Camry, Aurion and Camry Hybrid without government co-investment," he said. Toyota is reportedly set to fund most of its new A$300 million engine plant at Altona here itself, with financial support from the federal and Victorian governments. "Planning for the next generation of cars is well under way and, as is normal for any Toyota affiliate, we will develop the business case to secure the next model," Callachor said. Holden's parent company General Motors told The Australian Financial Review the Commodore would be replaced by a smaller "global" car within five to six years. "It's still an outstanding motor vehicle and one that we intend to produce for a long time. "But if you look at the motorway here in Melbourne, you see a lot of small cars. You see a lot of more fuel-efficient vehicles on the roads than Commodore," Tim Lee, president of General Motor's international operations, was quoted as saying. --BERNAMA