Toyota to slice production at Altona plant as demand dives

[Redrum]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...4-2862,00.html



AUSTRALIA's biggest car exporter Toyota will slice production at its Altona plant because of flagging demand for Camrys in key Middle Eastern markets.

Staff at the Altona plant were told yesterday that output would be reduced in the first half of this year because export sales were not likely to meet initial targets.

Sources said no jobs were likely to be cut, but any further reduction would threaten jobs.

The Toyota cuts follow a decision by Ford's consumer finance arm to stop lending money for retail car sales in Australia.

Ford Credit's decision will cost 160 jobs.

Export sales are critical for the future of Toyota's Altona plant. More than half of the 150,000 cars produced at the factory last year were exported to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. The export business raked in $1.7 billion.

Toyota spokeswoman Heather Box refused to comment on the imminent production changes.

"In these circumstances we are reviewing our production volumes, as we always do, but there is nothing we can confirm today," she said.

Almost 10,000 full-time jobs were lost in Victoria last month as national unemployment broke through the half a million mark.

The official unemployment rate rose from 4.4 to 4.5 per cent amid warnings of much worse to come. Victoria's unemployment rate jumped from 4.4 to 4.6 per cent.

Nationally, 43,900 full-time jobs were lost in December, but part-time employment increased by 42,800, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released yesterday showed.

The Australian National Retailers Association said 45,000 jobs had been shed from the sector last year and another 50,000 were at risk.

Despite only a slight increase in the national jobless rate, the Government and economists agreed the figures confirmed the effects of the global economic downturn.

"Australia is not immune from the impact of the global financial crisis," Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said.

The unemployment rate was likely to climb to 5 per cent by the middle of the year, Ms Gillard said.

While experts had predicted the economy would lose 20,000 jobs, an increase in part-time employment of 42,800 for the month indicated businesses were seeking to ride out the gloom by -- for now - avoiding wholesale job slashing.

[sleekism]

The Toyota cuts follow a decision by Ford's consumer finance arm to stop lending money for retail car sales in Australia.

WTF??????????????????????????????

[Burnout]

Originally Posted by sleekism

WTF??????????????????????????????

WTF alright!

[4Vman]

Don't you love the way the media portray job losses or employment...?

"While experts had predicted the economy would lose 20,000 jobs, an increase in part-time employment of 42,800 for the month indicated businesses were seeking to ride out the gloom by -- for now - avoiding wholesale job slashing."

As if businesses hang onto staff whether there's work for them to do or not...

Or just employ extra people as a good will gesture... :

businesses need staff to perform the tasks required of that business, if there's more people than needed to meet current demand they have to loose numbers, if there's more work than the current staffing levels can cope with they employ more people..

[johnny351]

yeh my dad works there and told me i could definitely get a job with him when i get my forklift license next week but yesterday he tells me sorry mate no chance now thing aren't going so well even though they sold more car this year than last

[sleekism]

Oh well I guess the 7 people who buy retail Falcons every year will be disappointed.

This is going to be a disaster for the retail savvy Focus and Territory!!!

This must be a mistake. Ford credit wasn't affected by the Global Financial Crisis :

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Oh well I guess the 7 people who buy retail Falcons every year will be disappointed.

This is going to be a disaster for the retail savvy Focus and Territory!!!

This must be a mistake. Ford credit wasn't affected by the Global Financial Crisis :

So I assumeyou didn't see the thread: http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...1&page=1&pp=25

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by sleekism

Oh well I guess the 7 people who buy retail Falcons every year will be disappointed.

This is going to be a disaster for the retail savvy Focus and Territory!!!

This must be a mistake. Ford credit wasn't affected by the Global Financial Crisis :

Pfft... anyone can get a better deal from other sources anyway.

Every car ive financed Ford Credit weren't competitive with their rates anyway.'