Toyota extends its hand for more in attempt to keep Altona open Toyota is seeking a government handout to ensure its Altona plant does not close. TOYOTA is seeking a handout from the Federal Government to keep its Altona plant open. Federal Industry Minister Greg Combet said this week that talks were taking place with the Japanese car giant. "We are confident of their future in manufacturing," he said on ABC Radio. The high-level talks come shortly after Ford announced it would close its Geelong and Broadmeadows plants in 2016. Toyota is the strongest of the local manufacturers but it is expected the loss of Ford will increase costs in its supply chain. Mr Combet's spokesman, Mark Davis, confirmed the talks had occurred, but refused to comment further. The Herald Sun understands the discussions were about plans to continue manufacturing, not a bid to add a third vehicle to its Altona assembly line. Any fresh handouts would be on top of more than $100 million in taxpayer assistance provided to Toyota in the past five years. Toyota spokeswoman Beck Angel said the company was trying to secure local manufacturing. "Our first and foremost priority is to transform our business so we can continue to build cars in this country for many years to come," she said. The Altona factory opened a new $330 million hybrid engine plant last year. It will export 18,000 engines this year and 90,000 will be fitted to locally produced Camry and hybrid Camry vehicles. Ford's closure will cost 1200 jobs. Holden also sacked 500 this year. Toyota cut 350 staff in 2012 but hired 70 staff on short-term contracts in April. TOYOTA will recall 242,000 Prius and Lexus hybrid cars globally because of a braking problem, the company said yesterday. Drivers of cars made between March and October 2009 said they needed to step more heavily on the brake pedal. The recall includes 3000 cars in the Asia-Pacific region.