The Toyota Australia Altona Plant opened in 1978, as Toyota's first engine plant outside of Japan.[1][2] Panel production began in 1983, before full vehicle production commenced in July 1994 with manufacture of the Corolla transferred from Port Melbourne followed in January 1995 by the Camry.[3][4] The expanded plant built by John Holland was opened by Prime Minister Paul Keating.[5][6]
Altona also manufactured the badge engineeredHolden Apollo and Holden Novas. It exported cars to Brunei, Kuwait, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.[7][8]
In August 2012, Altona competed its one millionth vehicle for export.[8] In February 2014 Toyota announced the plant would close after it decided it would cease production in Australia.[9][10] This occurred in October 2017.[11][12]
The site was redeveloped with the former manufacturing building converted into a redevelopment facility which included vehicle design and testing studios, training rooms, a mock sales dealership, auditorium and 400 person bistro.[13][14][15] In 2024 Toyota began assembling and distributing stationary hydrogen fuel cell power generators at Altona.[16]
