Australia has announced additional measures to ensure automotive manufacturing sector has a strong future and continues to provide high-skill, high-wage jobs for Australians, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Kim Carr said on Monday.

This includes 200 million AU dollars (almost $178 million) in funding, fully offset from the contingency reserve, and a mandated 100 percent Australian-made target for the purchase of Commonwealth fleet passenger motor vehicles.

"The automotive industry is vital to Australia's economic future and we are determined to increase sales of locally made cars," Carr said.

If the 100 percent Australian-made passenger motor vehicle fleet target the Australian government has committed to today was adopted at all levels of government, sales of Australian-made vehicles could increase by over 18,000 units per year. This represents an 8 percent increase on 2012 production volumes.

"The motor vehicle manufacturing industry in this country provides thousands of jobs, billions of dollars in export income and investment and benefits in research and development." Carr said. "Our actions will provide crucial ongoing support for an industry that has been under considerable pressure with a high Australian dollar over an extended period and an increasingly competitive global market."