Sheet Metal Stamping Simulation

ALTONA will become the epicentre of Toyota’s plans to become the dominant player in manufacturing fuel-efficient engines.

Toyota announced on Friday the Grieve Pde plant would make more than 100,000 engines a year for its Camry and Hybrid Camry cars, starting late 2012.

The engines aim to deliver reduced carbon emissions and improved fuel consumption.

It will be the first time hybrid engines, now imported from Japan, are built in Australia.

The deal also assures the jobs of 320 Altona workers, who were praised by Toyota Australia president and CEO Max Yasuda.

Altona identity and former mayor Leigh Hardinge said the presence of Toyota in Altona could not be underestimated.

“I’m a great supporter of Toyota being in Altona. It’s been a wonderful experience for the city, not only for allowing us to keep our skills and experts, but it also creates a lot of work for a lot of people,” Mr Hardinge said.

“I think it is a wonderful thing to see them now give a further commitment to the city.

“I think we need our manufacturing industries supported, because these are the skills for the future.”

Mr Yasuda said the announcement was a huge endorsement for the Altona plant.

“Securing the investment to produce the next-generation engine is a huge vote of confidence for our local manufacturing plant and our employees, who have worked tirelessly to improve operational performance to demonstrate our ability to compete with Asia Pacific counterparts,” Mr Yasuda said.

The Federal Government’s Green Car Innovation Fund contributed $63 million and the Victorian Government an undisclosed amount to secure the deal.

Both governments spent $35 million last year to start building the Hybrid Camry in Victoria.

Premier John Brumby said the move was a “vote of confidence” in Victorian manufacturing.

The Hybrid Camry engines use 30 per cent less fuel.