Camry Hybrid to be First Toyota Hybrid Built Outside of Japan
Thus far, Toyota's hybrid electric (HEV) models have been built in Japan only, but this will change
 |
| Thus far, Toyota's hybrid electric (HEV) models have been built in Japan only. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
Why the change of venue? The first generation Prius needed to be built in its own specialized plant, but progress in hybrid development has allowed Toyota to build the current Prius, as well as other HEVs alongside their gasoline-only powered stablemates. This has reduced production costs, and allowed more Toyota vehicles to include the automaker's Hybrid Synergy Drive system as an option.
The second vehicle to get the HEV upgrade was the recently introduced Lexus RX 400h, which will soon be followed by a Toyota branded Highlander Hybrid, based on the same
 |
| Progress in hybrid development has allowed Toyota to build the current Prius, as well as other HEVs alongside their gasoline-only powered stablemates. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
The Camry Hybrid, based on the next-generation Camry which will share its general architecture with the extremely capable 2005 Avalon, will be built alongside conventionally powered Camry models in the automaker's Georgetown, Kentucky plant, starting in 2006, and in so doing become the first Toyota hybrid to be built outside of Japan. The Georgetown plant was chosen, because it is the only North American facility that builds Camrys. Also, the majority of Camrys and Solaras made were built in the U.S. with 406,224 of the 426,990 total global 2004 build assembled in Georgetown.