Camry to secure 4200 Toyota jobs in Australia

Toyota has emerged from a massive natural disaster in Japan and industrial strife locally to issue a firm commitment to manufacturing in Australia.

The car giant, which accounts for a hefty 18per cent of the Australian market, launched yesterday its seventh-generation Camry, with the model set to lead the medium-size, four-cylinder car market.

The release of the Camry should secure the jobs of Toyota’s 4200-strong Australian workforce, including the 3200 manufacturing workers at its Melbourne plants.

Toyota Australia’s sales and marketing director, David Buttner, said the Camry would form the vanguard of a host of new-generation models, including Prius, Rav and Corolla.

”Next year augurs very well for both the sales and share point of view and we know those new products will draw a lot of new customers and existing customers back into the Toyota showroom,” Mr Buttner said.

The carmaker’s buoyant outlook stands in sharp contrast to three months ago when it said continued industrial action in Melbourne and Sydney could hurt its export potential.

At the time, Toyota Australia president Max Yasuda said the strikes came on top of high costs and a high currency as well as reduced output volumes.

That was in addition to the component and car supply line being cut by both the Japanese tsunami and the Thai floods.

But Mr Buttner said yesterday the industrial action and uncertainty was in the past. ”I’m very pleased to say our workplace agreement has been fully endorsed by our employees and through Fair Work Australia, so it’s back to business as usual building the next-generation Camry,” he said.