Australian cars - Pictures - Toyota

ZCars

E-mail Subscription

Receive an e-mail notification of new posts on this site:

Vimu Subscription

ZCars Forums

Cars for sale NSW (40)

Cars for sale NT (0)

Cars for sale VIC (15)

Cars for sale QLD (21)

Cars for sale ACT (4)

Cars for sale WA (8)

Cars for sale SA (5)

Cars for sale TAS (0)

Australian cars Pictures Toyota - ZCars

Toyota Australia pulls the plug on TRD performance brand

December 19th 2008 22:30

Despite leading the Australian automotive market for the sixth successive year in 2008, Toyota Australia has announced the demise of the TRD performance brand, blaming the global economic crisis for the cease in operations, effective March 31, 2009.

Senior Executive Director, Toyota Australia, David Buttner said: "Toyota has a responsibility to ensure its core business activities, and the people who rely on them, are protected for the long term.

"However, the perspective has changed for business globally and those new rules require tough decisions for the greater good.

"This is one of those decisions."

Toyota has delivered a total of 888 TRD vehicles as of November 30, 2008 - 537 TRD Aurion and 351 TRD HiLux. The Australian-designed and built TRD had been five years in planning with the first vehicle, TRD Aurion, was launched 16 months ago, followed by TRD HiLux.

Existing owners and prospective buyers of TRD vehicles have nothing to worry about - they will still be covered by Toyota's new-vehicle warranty and the company would guarantee the continuing supply of parts to meet its legal obligations. All seventeen Toyota employees involved in the TRD operation will be reassigned to other departments within Toyota.

"With the realities of the financial crisis and the downturn in consumer confidence, companies worldwide have an overriding responsibility to do their utmost to conserve cash - and Toyota is doing just that.

"The decision to move TRD's focus from vehicle conversion was made with the best interest of its customers and its network in mind.

"In the current circumstances the decision is correct and the outcome will be positive." said David Buttner.

[Source: Toyota Australia]

Shared on

Comments (1)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: charles - Category: Australian cars, Japanese cars, Pictures, Toyota

Email this Post to a Friend

Australian-built Toyota Camry Hybrid in 2010

June 10th 2008 06:00

Japanese car maker Toyota has announced today that they will begin building a hybrid version of the Camry sedan at its Melbourne-based Altona plant within the next 18 months.

In return, Toyota will receive a $35 million subsidy from the Federal Government as part of the Green Car Fund. The news was announced by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - in Nagoya, Japan - and Victorian Premier John Brumby at Altona in a simultaneous announcement.

The announcement marks an important moment for the Australian car industry which now joins Japan and the US as part of Toyota's hybrid family.

The Victorian Premier said 10,000 hybrid Camrys are expected to be made at Altona each year from the start of 2010 thus increasing the total production of cars at Altona above the 150,000 mark annually.

This in turn will create more jobs for Victorian car workers.

"With car manufacturers moving on a global scale to produce green, fuel-efficient cars it is crucial that the Victorian auto industry secures a slice of this investment, which will add $150 million annually to our economy,'' Mr Brumby said.

Inevitably, the hybrid Camry would be more expensive than the regular model but the price of the vehicle should be kept low and competitive if the $35 million subsidy is factored into the equation.

[Source: Toyota via SMH.com]

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: charles - Category: Australian cars, Pictures, Toyota, Saloons, Sedans

Email this Post to a Friend

[ ZCars Home ] [ Create A New Post ]