Car industry findings out by Christmas The federal government is awaiting findings from the Productivity Commission to see if the car manufacturing sector can be made viable, but the South Australian premier says it could spell the end of the industry. Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane says the Productivity Commission will produce interim findings on the future of the industry by Christmas. "We are trying to put together a process where we can assess through the Productivity Commission whether or not we can make the car industry viable," Mr Mcfarlane told reporters in Melbourne. But South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says the federal government's planned review of the car industry, ahead of confirming assistance to Holden, would not provide a satisfactory outcome. "The Productivity Commission is likely to recommend we allocate resources to another sector and just allow an industry like this to pass into oblivion," the premier said. But Mr Macfarlane is adamant the industry can be saved and says Toyota is enthusiastic about staying in Australia and remaining competitive. He said talks with Ford are in the pipeline to ensure the company manufactures cars in Australia for as long as possible. Ford has already announced plans to stop vehicle production in 2016, citing the high cost of local manufacturing. "They (Ford) know I'm coming," Mr Macfarlane said. I don't say anything is impossible. My goal is to keep the design and R&D (research and development) plant here in Australia. Mr Macfarlane said he would ask cabinet to use money in the Automotive Transformation Scheme to keep the industry afloat if needed. He said his priority was to keep the industry going and to ensure thousands of people who worked in manufacturing across the country did not lose their jobs. "I am committed to the car industry and the people that work out the back in sheds behind me and in Adelaide and Broadmeadows, whose livelihood and mortgages ... depend on Australia making vehicles," he said at Toyota's Melbourne plant. Mr Macfarlane visited the Altona plant on Wednesday after a similar trip last week to Adelaide for talks with Holden, which focused on how much funding Holden requires to commit to building two new cars in Australia from 2016. Victorian Premier Denis Napthine was due to meet with Mr Macfarlane later on Wednesday. "I will be putting a very strong position from Victoria on the importance of the vehicle manufacturing industry to jobs and the economy of this state," he told reporters. Particularly the importance of the supply chain to the vehicle manufacturing industry and how important it is not only to jobs, not only to the economy, but also the engineering and design capacity of our state which I believe is an essential component of the future of Victoria.