Pre-Production Trials Start at Toyota Oz Engine Plant
The auto maker says the new plant is the first in Australia capable of producing both gasoline and hybrid engines.
Toyota Australia begins pre-production trials of its new A$330 million ($339 million) 4-cyl. engine plant at its Altona manufacturing site outside Melbourne.
The first build of 30 units is designed to ensure the new machinery is working at capacity and the engines produced meet Toyota’s quality standards. Casting, assembly and machinery operations are housed under the same roof to improve efficiencies.
The factory, replacing an engine plant built in 1978, is expected to begin volume production of about 450 engines a day by the end of the year.
The auto maker received A$63 million ($64.7 million) from the Australian government's Green Car Innovation Fund toward the cost, as well as an undisclosed amount of money from the Victoria state government.
“The new engine plant is an Australian first for producing both petrol (gasoline) and hybrid engines,” Chris Harrod, executive director-Toyota Australia Mfg., says in a statement.
The new facility will produce engines for the locally manufactured Camry and Camry Hybrid. Harrod adds it will open new export markets in Thailand and Malaysia.
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