MNeagle
6th September 2011, 08:09 PM
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/images/photos2011/nb20110907a1a.jpgKyodo
NAGOYA — Toyota Motor Corp. plans to terminate exports of its Camry midsize sedan to North America and shift to local production to help offset the yen's strength, company officials said.
Toyota also intends to phase out Camry exports to other overseas markets while gradually increasing production abroad to reduce its exposure to currency market fluctuations, the officials said.
The move will not affect production capacity or employment at its Tsutsumi plant in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, which makes Camrys in Japan, the officials said.
The plan to phase out Camry exports was revealed Monday as Toyota launched in Japan its all-new Camry, fully remodeled as a hybrid with improved fuel economy.
The new version, Toyota's fourth exclusively hybrid line after the Prius, Prius Alpha and SAI, is powered by a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor, providing an improved fuel economy of 23.4 km per liter.
The automaker aims to sell 500 of the cars per month through its Corolla dealer outlets, up from about 100 before the full model change.
Toyota expects to attract customers hoping to switch from small hybrid vehicles to larger ones or from large conventional sedans to more fuel-efficient ones.
The hybrid Camry will hit the U.S. market in October. The Camry has been the best-selling car in the U.S. for nine years running and 13 of the past 14 years.
Toyota also plans to introduce a hybrid car smaller than the Prius in the Japanese market this year to further expand the range of choices for customers.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20110907a1.html
NAGOYA — Toyota Motor Corp. plans to terminate exports of its Camry midsize sedan to North America and shift to local production to help offset the yen's strength, company officials said.
Toyota also intends to phase out Camry exports to other overseas markets while gradually increasing production abroad to reduce its exposure to currency market fluctuations, the officials said.
The move will not affect production capacity or employment at its Tsutsumi plant in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, which makes Camrys in Japan, the officials said.
The plan to phase out Camry exports was revealed Monday as Toyota launched in Japan its all-new Camry, fully remodeled as a hybrid with improved fuel economy.
The new version, Toyota's fourth exclusively hybrid line after the Prius, Prius Alpha and SAI, is powered by a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor, providing an improved fuel economy of 23.4 km per liter.
The automaker aims to sell 500 of the cars per month through its Corolla dealer outlets, up from about 100 before the full model change.
Toyota expects to attract customers hoping to switch from small hybrid vehicles to larger ones or from large conventional sedans to more fuel-efficient ones.
The hybrid Camry will hit the U.S. market in October. The Camry has been the best-selling car in the U.S. for nine years running and 13 of the past 14 years.
Toyota also plans to introduce a hybrid car smaller than the Prius in the Japanese market this year to further expand the range of choices for customers.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20110907a1.html