Toyota – World Expo Partner

Australia is one of Toyota Japan’s global centres of manufacturing excellence, and the company has invested around A$1.6bn into Australia since 1994.

“Victoria is the automotive centre of excellence in Australia. That’s why we’re based in Victoria, because the expertise in the car industry is on the ground in terms of components, suppliers, logistics and general service support,” says Ted Okada, President, Toyota Australia.

It is no coincidence that Toyota Australia’s home state of Victoria is the sister state of the Aichi prefecture in Japan, the home of Toyota Motor Corporation. Toyota Australia is a major partner in Australia’s involvement with 2005 World Expo
in Aichi.

Today, the Altona manufacturing plant incorporates state-of-the-art stamping, paint and assembly lines. Record levels of local development ensure new cars meet the needs of Australian and overseas customers with the highest levels of local content since the first Australian-built Camry in 1987. Toyota spends more than A$1.4bn a year with Australian companies supplying locally-made components for its Australian-made vehicles. The new Camry has 79% local content and Toyota was Australia’s best-selling brand in 2003.

Also Australia’s largest vehicle exporter, Toyota Australia sent 66,000 cars to more than 20 different markets in 2003 and celebrated its two millionth Australian-built vehicle, a silver Toyota Camry Sportivo, at its Altona plant on 15 April 2004. It took 29 years to build the first million Toyotas in Australia and 12 years to build the second million.

Green headquarters

“In addition to concentrating on the environmental performance of its products and manufacturing activities, Toyota applies environmental sustainability practices to all areas of the company, as seen with the new corporate headquarters building”, says Mr Okada.
The company has invested A$50m in the new corporate headquarters, located in Port Melbourne, Victoria (see also p110).

In April 2004 the building was recognised in the City of Port Phillip’s Design and Development Awards, winning the award for ‘Best Contribution to Sustainable Development – Large Scale’.