Toyota Announces Hybrid Camry - Will be made in Kentucky

Wow. We get 6 speakers for our JBL and frankly I think the Camry's JBL audio system sounds better.

 

I was emailed this article this morning:

Posted on Tue, May. 03, 2005


Hybrid auto line might be in Scott
Toyota decision on Camry reported
By Steve Lannen And Jack Brammer
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITERS

A Japanese business newspaper is reporting that Toyota will build a hybrid Camry at its Georgetown plant beginning next year, but a Toyota spokesman in Kentucky called the report "speculative" and said no decision has been made.

Sunday's edition of the business daily Nihon Keizai Shimbun cited Toyota Motor Co. sources as saying the automaker will build a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the Camry in the latter half of 2006 at the Georgetown plant.

The report comes two weeks before Gov. Ernie Fletcher is scheduled to travel to Japan to promote Kentucky among business leaders at the 2005 Aichi World Exposition and host a reception with Toyota officials. "Kentucky Week" in the expo's U.S. pavilion is scheduled for May 16-22.

Toyota plants in Ontario, Indiana and California as well as Kentucky have been considered possible locations for the first North American hybrid production, with an announcement expected before the end of June.

Rick Hesterberg, spokesman at the Georgetown plant, said yesterday he had seen some speculative stories recently, but not the Nihon Keizai Shimbun article.

Hesterberg said he was not aware of any official decision on where to build the hybrid in North America.

David Healy, an auto industry analyst for Burnham Securities who has tracked Toyota for years, said last night he had not yet seen the Japanese newspaper report, but it did not surprise him that a decision might be first leaked to the business publication.

"It's highly probable. I think the official announcement will follow this," he said.

But officials in the governor's administration said last night they were not aware of any Toyota decision. Communications director Carla Blanton said the state continues to pursue hybrid manufacturing.

State Economic Development Secretary Gene Strong also had not seen the report but said he did not think Toyota has decided where to locate its hybrid expansion.

"Our understanding of Toyota's decision is that it will most likely come in June," Strong said. "We're working on this every day. In fact, we had a conversation with the company today about the project." Whatever community is the site of the project, Strong said, "it will be a major coup."

In March, the General Assembly passed legislation that provides income tax credit for the manufacture of environmentally preferred products. The incentives are for businesses that make at least a $5 million investment. The state also will pay 100 percent of training costs for workers and 25 percent of equipment costs.

The Japanese newspaper also reported Toyota is considering making the Prius or other hybrid sport-utility vehicles in 2007 in the United States. Toyota has an estimated 60 percent of the hybrid market.

Demand for gas-electric hybrids -- which can get fuel efficiency of 60 miles per gallon -- has increased as gas prices rise.

Analysts said it makes a lot of sense to begin with the Camry, the highest-selling passenger car in 2004 in the United States.

"Their strategy on hybrids is to get away from hybrid-only models," Healy said.

In Georgetown, Toyota has a large, established operation with suppliers nearby, said Mike Jackson, director of North American vehicle forecasts for CSM Worldwide, an auto industry forecaster in Farmington Hills, Mich.

Hybrid manufacturing is not likely to create a job boom like the one when Toyota began making cars in Kentucky in the late 80s, Jackson said.

What it could provide, he said, is "bragging rights" for the plant and region. It also gives the company another way to cultivate its image as an environmentally responsible carmaker, he said.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(senna4ever\";p=\"86692)</div>

It's possible since it uses the same 3.3 litre 3MZ-FE engine as the Camry/RX/Highlander/Solara

 

mmhmm, I can't remember where I read but they said Panasonic will supply the Li-Ion battery by 2008 at the latest for the Prius.