Toyota Australia has begun exporting its new locally built four-cylinder engines to Thailand and Malaysia.
This is the first time Toyota Australia has sold standalone engines to these major Asian markets.
About 18,000 engines are expected to be exported this year, while more than 90,000 engines will be fitted to Toyota Australia's locally built Camry and Camry Hybrid sedans for domestic and export markets.
This is a positive sign for Australia’s struggling car industry hit recently by a spate of redundancies and plant closures in Victoria and South Australia.
Toyota Australia's Executive Director of Manufacturing and Purchasing, Chris Harrod, said: "Our employees have worked incredibly hard to secure the investment for the new engine plant and ensure that we are producing the best quality engines.
"The fact that we were able to secure new export markets in Thailand and Malaysia is testament to the quality of our work and the positive reputation Toyota Australia has amongst our affiliates.”
Toyota Australia is one of only four countries to produce this particular engine and are the only Australian manufacturer to produce both petrol and hybrid engines.
Mr Harrod said both petrol and hybrid engines will be shipped to Thailand and Malaysia, with the first shipment expected to arrive in February 2013.
It comes after the new Altona engine plant was officially opened by Toyota Australia President and CEO Max Yasuda, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu in December last year.
About 108,000 engines will be produced this year, of which 85 per cent will be petrol engines and 15 per cent hybrid.
Source:
http://industryupdate.com.au/article/toyota-exports-engines-thailand-malaysia
