End of the road: After more than 50 years the last Australian-made Toyota leaves production line ahead of closure of iconic factory

  • Toyota has produced its last Australian made vehicle after a 50 year run
  • Announcement comes ahead of the closure of Melbourne's Altona North plant
  • 2,700 workers will  be out of a job, although AMWU says number is five times that
  • A rep said the car company has been planning to pull out of Australia since 2014

By Yael Brender For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

After more than half a century making cars in Australia, Toyota has rolled the last vehicle off its Melbourne production line on Tuesday.

The final model - a petrol Camry - was completed at the Altona North plant on Tuesday afternoon, effectively ending the jobs of more than 2700 workers.

But the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union fears that up to five times that number of workers will be affected throughout the component supply chain.

The last Toyota car produced in Australia is displayed for gathered workers in Melbourne, VIC

The last Toyota car produced in Australia is displayed for gathered workers in Melbourne, VIC

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 The last Toyota made in Australia - a petrol Camry - rolled of the production line on Tuesday

Toyota workers leave the Toyota manufacturing plant in Melbourne for the last time on Tuesday

Toyota workers leave the Toyota manufacturing plant in Melbourne for the last time on Tuesday

Toyota announced in 2014 it was pulling out of Australia, four years after the company said it was building a new $300 million engine plant at Altona.

Workers have been provided with retraining but the union says the job market for people aged in their 40s and 50s is tough.

More than 2200 workers have taken part in Toyota's job skills training program, which will continue for six months after manufacturing stops, the company said.

Toyota began producing its cars in Melbourne in 1963, and opened the Altona plant in 1978

Toyota began producing its cars in Melbourne in 1963, and opened the Altona plant in 1978

Toyota's plant at Altona North will now close down, four years after it was built in Melbourne

Toyota's plant at Altona North will now close down, four years after it was built in Melbourne

AMWU manufacturing division union secretary Dave Smith holds a press conference outside

AMWU manufacturing division union secretary Dave Smith holds a press conference outside

Toyota workers poses for a photo after the press conference outside the Altona North plant

Toyota workers poses for a photo after the press conference outside the Altona North plant

About 260 workers have indicated they will retire while 130 will be placed into sales and marketing roles.

Toyota stopped building Aurion vehicles in August and Camry hybrids in September.

The company has planned a private event when the final car rolls off the assembly line.

Toyota began producing cars in Melbourne in 1963, and opened the Altona plant in 1978.

The Altona North Toyota plant produced its last-ever Australian-made Toyota on Tuesday arvo

The Altona North Toyota plant produced its last-ever Australian-made Toyota on Tuesday arvo

Toyota staff leave the Toyota manufacturing plant in Melbourne after the last car was produced

Toyota staff leave the Toyota manufacturing plant in Melbourne after the last car was produced

TOYOTA'S AUSTRALIAN STORY

* More than 3.4 million cars built in Australia since 1963, starting with the Tiara sedan

* Altona North plant opened in 1978, and closed on October 3, 2017, with a petrol Camry last off the line

* More than 2.1 million Camrys were built in Australia

* Other models produced: Corona, Crown, Corolla, Apollo, Nova, Avalon and Aurion

* In 2010, the company revealed plans for a $300 million engine plant at Altona

* In 2014, Toyota announced it would shut the door on Australian car making, partly due to the strong dollar

* The Altona North closure puts about 2600 workers out of a job and reduces the number of Australian employees to about 1300

* The Altona North site will be used as a training centre, for vehicle evaluations, and to house some corporate departments

* Toyota Australia hit peak production in 2007, building almost 149,000 cars, and its biggest export market is the Middle East 

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Toyota executives leave the Toyota Altona North manufacturing plant on Tuesday afternoon

Toyota executives leave the Toyota Altona North manufacturing plant on Tuesday afternoon

Workers outside the Toyota manufacturing plant in Melbourne, which closed down on Tuesday

Workers outside the Toyota manufacturing plant in Melbourne, which closed down on Tuesday

Melbourne

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