Toyota Supra, BMW Z4 going out of production?

It seems the fifth-generation Toyota Supra (AKA GR Supra) and third-generation BMW Z4 are not long for this world. This comes after multiple reports indicate that both cars are heading for the chopping block in the coming years.

For those not in the know, both the GR Supra and Z4 are related, with Toyota collaborating with BMW to make the all-new Supra a reality. Both cars are manufactured in Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, and serve global markets.

So why the news about the vehicles’ supposed demise? According to a report by Auto News, Magna Steyr recently announced that they were going to lay off around 500 employees at their facility in Austria - citing that production of several vehicles like the Jaguar E-Pace, Jaguar I-Pace, and Fisker Ocean will soon cease. Apparently, production of some BMW vehicles like the 5 Series is also included in the said report although no specifics were mentioned regarding the Supra/Z4.

When Auto News asked a Toyota executive regarding the future of the Supra, they said that there was “nothing to announce at this time.” However, the publication pushed for more information, prompting Toyota Motor North America Group vice president Dave Christ to state “We partnered with BMW and it’s been successful. We’re evaluating what’s next.”

The executive then went on to say “I think if we want to build something, we’ll figure out how to build it.” This somehow leads us to believe that Toyota either plans to make the next-generation Supra on its own or perhaps they are already looking at making something entirely different.

Should Toyota decide to make the new Supra on its own, the costs might be hard to justify since the original reason why it collaborated with BMW to make it a reality was to keep costs down. Alternatively, should the Japanese brand decide to make something new instead of the Supra, we might see the return of old nameplates like the MR2 or Celica although these are unlikely to happen as of now.

With both vehicles experiencing low sales and electrification on the horizon for both Toyota and BMW, perhaps the two automakers have already spoken behind closed doors about the future of the Supra and Z4. But until new or official details come out from either brand, we will be keeping a close eye on this matter.

Source: Carscoops via Auto News