Toyota to Produce Toyota Camry Hybrid in Thailand

Tokyo, June 10, 2008 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced today that, as part of an effort to further popularize hybrid vehicles worldwide, it will begin producing the "Camry Hybrid" at Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. (TMT), TMC's vehicle production base in Thailand.

Production of the Camry Hybrid at TMT's Gateway Plant will commence in 2009, with an annual production target of 9,000 vehicles.

"Thailand is the first ASEAN country to build hybrid vehicles. As the Camry has received a warm welcome from Thai customers, we are sure these customers will be satisfied not only with the product but also with its environmental performance", said TMT President Mitsuhiro Sonoda at a joint press conference in Bangkok with Siam Toyota Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Ever since the introduction in 1997 of the Toyota Prius - the world's first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle - TMC has actively been promoting and popularizing hybrid technology, as part of its high-priority environmental management policy. Toyota aims to sell 1 million or more hybrid vehicles annually as early as possible in the 2010s and is working to establish a worldwide optimal hybrid vehicle production system that reflects market needs.

Toyota to expand Camry Hybrid production to Thailand, Australia

June10

In an effort to increase the worldwide popularity of hybrids, Toyota has announced it will begin building its Camry Hybrids in Thailand and Australia. The plan will be rolled out over the next two years with production at the automaker’s Gateway plant in the Thai province of Chachoengsao beginning in 2009, followed by production in Australia in 2010.

Toyota’s Gateway plant is slated to crank out 9,000 Camry Hybrids per year while Toyota’s Australian operations will produce 10,000 units annually.

“We decided to build the Camry hybrid in Australia because Australians are keenly aware of environmental issues including global warming,” Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe told Automotive News. The Australian government is keen on expanding hybrid production and will give Toyota $33.2 million (U.S.) for the local production of Camry hybrids.

The Camry Hybrid is currently built in Japan and Kentucky.

Although the move will only slightly boost its hybrid production, the added notoriety should help Toyota to ultimately reach its goal of selling 1 million hybrids annually be early next decade.

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