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. That's a very worrying suggestion that the future of this industry is put in their hands without some very clear guidelines. 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. "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. The company was promised $275 million last year but was now thought to need as much as $500 million to push ahead with its plans. Media reports said at last week's talks Holden also told the state and federal governments it would cost as much as $600 million for the company to close Australian operations. Victorian Premier Denis Napthine was due to meet with Mr Macfarlane later on Wednesday.