MELBOURNE – Car manufacturer Toyota has officially announced that it will close its Altona plant in Melbourne’s west in October, with the loss of more than 2,500 jobs.

Following 53 years of manufacturing on Australian soil, the company said October 3 will be final day of production at the factory.

The company also said staff numbers would drop from almost 4,000 to 1,300 when it stops manufacturing.

In 2014, Toyota announced that it would no longer make cars in Melbourne beyond 2017 so workers had been expecting the announcement.

In a statement released yesterday, Toyota said the plant would stop building Aurions in August, Camry Hybrids in September and Camry petrol models in October.

Toyota Australia president Dave Buttner said employees would be supported to prepare for the future.

“We remain extremely proud of our rich manufacturing history which spans over 50 years,” he said.

“Our employees are committed to producing vehicles of the highest quality as we work towards our goal of ‘last car = best global car’.”

The head office will continue to be based in Port Melbourne and the company said most of the Altona manufacturing site would be retained for new and relocated functions.

The closure will signal the end of car manufacturing in Victoria after Ford shut its production lines last year.

– with other agencies