Activities by Region

Oceania

CBU exports to Australia began in the 1950s, and a transition to local assembly was made in the 1960s. Exports were also extended to New Zealand and other South Pacific countries in the 1960s.

Later, the business environment underwent extreme changes, particularly in Australia in the 1970s and 1980s, and operations were developed in response to regulations for the domestication of business.

Toyota currently has one production company and 15 distributors in Oceania.

Australia and South Pacific Countries

Year
Month
Events
1951
October
Exports to Oceania commenced with one large truck
1957
August
Tie-up for commercial vehicles formed with B&D Motors (cancelled in July 1959)
1959
July
Distributor agreement signed with Thiess Sales
1961
August
Stout, Land Cruiser, and large truck displayed at the Royal Show
1962
November
CKD export agreement signed with Australian Motor Industries (AMI)
1963
April
Tiara assembly commenced at AMI (assembly terminated in February 1987)
July
Melbourne Representative Office opened
1964
February
Sydney Representative Office opened
1967
February
Crown assembly commenced at AMI (assembly terminated in July 1980)
1968
July
Corolla assembly commenced at AMI
September
Equity stake in AMI acquired (10%)
1971
July
Thiess Sales renamed Thiess Toyota (Thiess)
July
Equity stake in Thiess acquired (40%)
September
Stake in AMI increased to 50%
1977
March
Toyota Manufacturing Australia (TMA) established
1978
October
Operations commenced at TMA engine plant; production of 4K engine for Corolla commenced
1979
September
GM Holden engine used in Corona pursuant to new automobile policy (domestic production rate of 85%)
1980
March
Thiess placed under direct management
1981
June
Toyota Australia Marketing Council launched for sales policy conferences by AMI and Thiess
July
Operations commenced at TAM stamping plant
1982
March
TMA exports of engine coarse materials to TMC commenced
June
Toyota Financial Australia Limited, a sales financing company, established
1985
September
AMI renamed AMI Toyota
1987
February
Camry assembly commenced at AMI
1988
May
UAAI, a joint venture with GM established
1993
August
Export of Australian-manufactured Camry units to Thailand commenced
1994
July
New Altona Plant established and Corolla production commenced
1995
March
Camry production commenced at new Altona Plant; opening ceremony conducted
1996
February
Export of Australian-manufactured Camry units to Middle East commenced
March
Joint venture with GM cancelled
1998
November
BPC, a regional holding company for South Pacific distributors, made a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho Corporation and renamed Toyota Tsusho South Pacific Holdings
1999
December
TMSA, TMCA, and AMI merge
2000
May
New TMCA Sydney office completed
2003
June
Toyota Technical Center Asia Pacific Australia Pty. Ltd. (TTCAP-AU) established
2004
July
Opening ceremony held for new TMCA office
2005
June
Opening ceremony held for TTCAP-AU
2006
October
Aurion production commenced at TMCA
December
Trial Agreement with Pickering Motors of the Cook Islands signed
2009
December
Ceremony held to mark 50th anniversary of TMCA's establishment
December
Camry Hybrid production commenced at TMCA
2011
November
New Camry production commenced at TMCA

New Zealand

Year
Month
Events
1966
January
Tie-up formed with Consolidated Motor Distributors (CMD)
1967
February
Corona assembly commenced at Steels Motor Assemblies (SMA)
1968
April
Corolla assembly commenced at Campbell Industries Limited (CIL)
1977
February
Equity stake in CMD acquired (20%)
February
Wellington Representative Office opened
February
SMA and CIL placed under direct management of CMD
May
CMD, SMA, and CIL renamed Toyota New Zealand (TNZ), TNZ Christchurch, and TNZ Thames
1983
November
Corolla production commenced at two plants
1985
May
Corona Wagon produced in Australia introduced (switched to Camry in June 1987)
1987
March
TNZ placed under direct management
1992
June
TNZ made a wholly-owned subsidiary
1996
September
Christchurch Plant closed
1998
October
Thames Plant closed
2002
May
Cross-selling of Daihatsu vehicles commenced in Toyota dealer network

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