Toyota to build Kluger in Australia

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Source News.com.au
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574...77-421,00.html

TOYOTA, one of Australia's big three car makers, is considering building a four-wheel drive model locally but not until the global financial crisis subsides.
Toyota Australia chief executive Max Yasuda told an industry journal the Kluger model could be built at the Altona plant in Melbourne.

"If we build (Kluger) here, obviously there is no need to produce (from Japan) for the Australian market, because we are the only right-hand (drive) market for this Kluger," Mr Yasuda told goauto.com.au.

Toyota said the model would not be built in Australia until after the global financial crisis eased.

"We have made no secret of our desire to produce a third model line-up as part of our manufacturing product mix," Toyota spokesman Glenn Campbell said.

"The possibility of a third model in unlikely in the next few years given the current economic climate, but when conditions improve it is one of the options we might consider."

The medium-sized Camry and six-cylinder Aurion models are presently built in Melbourne.

Mr Yasuda told goauto.com.au other Toyota vehicles were being considered to boost production volumes.

"There are other possibilities, he said.

"We are having a very difficult time, especially our suppliers due to a lower production volume, but we will survive."

Australia's two other main car makers Ford and Holden are due to make four-cylinder models locally from 2010.

Ford's Focus model will be made in Victoria.

Adelaide-based Holden, meanwhile, will build a small car based on a Chevrolet design, with production subsidised by the federal government's $1.3 billion green car innovation fund.

The same fund will give Toyota $35 million to build a petrol-electric hybrid Camry in Australia.
Toyota was Australia's biggest selling car brand in February, figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries on Wednesday showed.

The Japanese car giant sold 14,274 vehicles Down Under last month, ahead of Holden on 9,029 and Ford on 7396.

Toyota also led the way on a year-to-date basis with 27,701 vehicles compared to 17,791 for Holden and 13,416 for Ford.