Where are Australian Hilux made?
Australian Hilux models are not manufactured domestically; they are built overseas, with the majority sourced from Thailand. Australia’s era of local assembly ended years ago, and current Hilux sales are import-based.
Current production sources for Hilux sold in Australia
The Australian market relies on Toyota’s global production network. Most Hilux units destined for Australia come from overseas plants that serve the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
- Thailand: The primary Hilux production hub for the region, supplying Australia as part of Toyota Motor Thailand’s export network.
- South Africa: Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) manufactures Hilux for Africa and some export configurations.
- Argentina: Toyota Argentina builds Hilux for South America, with potential exports to neighboring markets.
In practice, Australian buyers typically receive Hilux models produced in Thailand, routed through Toyota’s regional logistics network.
Thailand as the primary source
Thailand hosts the main Hilux production lines operated by Toyota Motor Thailand, serving Asia-Pacific markets including Australia. The facility produces multiple Hilux configurations—such as double cab and extra cab variants—for regional distribution.
Other production sites in the global Hilux network
Beyond Thailand, Hilux units come from manufacturing sites in South Africa and Argentina, which supply their respective regional markets. Exports from these plants are allocated based on demand, logistics, and regional specifications.
Historical note: Australian-made Hilux
Historically, the HiLux was assembled in Australia at Toyota’s Altona plant near Melbourne, supporting local demand for many years. As global manufacturing strategies evolved, Toyota shifted production offshore and ended domestic vehicle assembly in Australia, making the Hilux sold here fully import-based.
Altona plant and the end of local assembly
The Altona facility, once central to Australian vehicle manufacturing, ceased vehicle production as Toyota Australia consolidated manufacturing abroad. Since then, the Australian market has relied on imports for Hilux models.
Why this matters for Australian buyers
For buyers, sourcing from overseas plants can influence lead times, model availability, and regional specifications. Importing from Thailand and other sites means Australian Hilux configurations follow global updates rather than local assembly schedules.
Summary
The Australian-market Hilux is no longer produced domestically; it is imported from overseas plants, predominantly Thailand, with additional production in South Africa and Argentina supporting other regions. The end of local Australian assembly, marked by the closure of the Altona plant, shifted Hilux supply to an import-based model for Australia.
Where is the Toyota Hilux manufactured?
The Toyota Hilux is manufactured in multiple countries, with its largest production base in Thailand. Other key manufacturing locations include Argentina, South Africa, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Venezuela. Some earlier generations were also produced in Japan and the United States.
- Thailand: Toyota's Samrong plant in Samut Prakan is a major production hub for the Hilux, supplying markets such as Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Thailand is the largest global production base for the Hilux.
- South Africa: The Prospecton plant in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, is another significant manufacturing location, especially for the double cab variant, which is a best-seller in that region.
- Other locations: The Hilux is also produced in Argentina, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Venezuela. Knock-down (assembly) production also occurs in Kenya for the African market.
What is the American Hilux called?
Consequently, the company developed the Toyota Tacoma, a North American version of the Hilux, offering similar features for the same market.
Why doesn't Toyota make Hilux in the USA?
The Toyota Hilux is not sold in the US primarily due to the "Chicken Tax," a 25% tariff on imported light trucks that makes it financially impractical. Additionally, the Hilux was not originally designed to meet the US's stricter safety, emissions, and fuel economy standards. Toyota also created the US-specific Toyota Tacoma to meet American market preferences for more features and comfort, and to avoid tariffs on vehicles produced in the US.
Reasons the Toyota Hilux isn't sold in the US
- The "Chicken Tax": This 25% tariff on imported light trucks was enacted in 1964 and makes it too expensive to import the Hilux and sell it competitively in the US.
- Different market and design: Toyota developed the Tacoma specifically for the North American market, which has different tastes and needs than the global Hilux. The Tacoma is typically more spacious and includes more features and comfort options.
- Safety and emissions standards: The Hilux was not designed to meet the US's strict Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) or EPA emissions regulations. Re-engineering the truck to meet these standards would be costly and time-consuming.
- Market competition: Toyota already has a successful mid-size truck in the US with the Tacoma and doesn't want the Hilux to compete with its own product.
Where are Australian Toyota cars made?
Many Toyota vehicles have been built at either Altona or Port Melbourne, including the Tiara, Corona, Crown, Corolla, Camry and Avalon.
