Toyota Australia has exported its 1 millionth motor vehicle to the Middle East and has become the nation’s largest car exporter.
Caradvice.com.au reports that the vast majority of the company’s exports are to the Middle East. Nations including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates import the cars.
While those nations account for about 97 per cent of Toyota Australia’s exports, New Zealand and South Pacific nations also import the vehicles. Only last year, the company passed the 1 million export mark to all countries.
“Exports play a vital part in our balanced business model and we will do everything we can to continue to support our export customers,” said Toyota Australia executive vice president and COO Dave Buttner.
“We hope that we can continue to supply vehicles to this very important export market for many more years to come.”
The models exported to the Middle East are the Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion models. There was a peak of 97,000 cars shipped in 2008.
As News.com.au reports, the Abbott government has signalled that it will emphasise the importance of exports in its dealings with car manufacturers.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane have said that any further assistance to Holden will only be given if the company exports ‘significant’ numbers of vehicles.
And the Australian market is not seen as large enough to sustain the industry and make local manufacturing viable. Indeed, there is no vehicle (imported or produced locally) that sells in large enough numbers to meet such a requirement.