A substantial car industry was created in Australia in the 20th century through the opening of Australian plants by international manufacturers. The first major carmaker was Ford Australia and the first Australian-designed mass production car was manufactured by Holden in 1948. Australian manufacture of cars rose to a maximum of almost half a million in the 1970s (10th place in the World) and still exceeded 400,000 in 2004.[1] Australia was best known for the design and production of 'large' sized passenger vehicles.[2] By 2009 total production had fallen to around 175,000 and the Australian market was dominated by cars imported from Asia and Europe.
As of 2015, Australian-designed cars were manufactured by General Motors subsidiary Holden, and Ford Australia, while Toyota Australia manufactured local variants of its international models, particularly the Camry. However, the Ford Australia engine and vehicle plants closed in October 2016 and the Holden and Toyota Australia factories closed in late 2017.[3][4][5] Only Ford's design and development facilities remain in operation, leaving Australia as one of 13 countries with the capabilities to design and develop mass market cars from scratch.[6][7][8][9] As of 2020, Holden has been shuttered and will no longer be sold as a GM brand.
- ^ "World car production grows 3 times faster than global oil supplies".
- ^ "Australia's ailing car industry in desperate need of a saviour". Drive.com.au. 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Toyota to close: Thousands of jobs to go as carmaker closes, Australian plants by 2017". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Holden to cease making cars in Australia in 2017". News Limited (news.com.au). 2013. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Ford Australia to close Broadmeadows and Geelong plants, 1,200 jobs to go". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Ford to hire sacked Holden workers". Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- ^ "Australia's Once-Vibrant Auto Industry Crashes in Slow Motion". The New York Times. 14 December 2014.
- ^ "Holden Retains Iconic Lang Lang Proving Ground – The Ultimate Test for Australian Vehicles". media.gm.com. Retrieved 13 February 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Holden Pressroom – Australia – Manufacturing". media.gm.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.