First Camry Hybrid rolls off the production line in Melbourne
 13th December 2009
Toyota Australia this week revealed Hybrid Camry - Australia's most
fuel-efficient locally built car - at a spectacular event at its Altona
manufacturing plant in Melbourne.
Hybrid Camry - with combined power
of around 140kW from its 2.4-litre petrol engine and electric drive motor -
will produce less than 150 grams per kilometre of CO2. Toyota expects the
official figures to show Hybrid Camry will use at least 35 per cent less
fuel than its locally built six-cylinder competitors*.
More than
2000 Toyota employees were joined by the Australian Prime Minister, the Hon.
Kevin Rudd; Victorian Premier, the Hon. John Brumby; Federal Minister for
Innovation, Industry, Science & Research, Senator the Hon. Kim Carr;
Victorian Industry and Trade Minister, the Hon. Martin Pakula; Mr Yukitoshi
Funo, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation; and His
Excellency, Mr Takaahi Kojima, Ambassador of Japan, to mark the historic
event.
Toyota Australia President and CEO, Mr Max Yasuda, said
Hybrid Camry represented one of the most significant developments in
Toyota's 50-year history in Australia, believing it has the potential to
change the Australian automotive landscape and provide Australian motorists
with an affordable, environmentally responsible vehicle.
 "We
want to build a sustainable industry that provides innovative and attractive
vehicles for our customers and a technology and manufacturing base that
attracts on-going investment. We will have the unique advantage in our
market of producing and selling a four-cylinder hybrid family car. It will
enable every household across the country to have the opportunity of having
a locally built hybrid in their driveway."
Hybrid vehicles produce
lower and cleaner emissions than standard engine technologies, reduce fuel
consumption and reduce the demand for oil.
"Both the Federal and
Victorian governments have demonstrated their strong desire for the local
industry to build vehicles that help meet the challenges of climate change
and a carbon-constrained future. The support of Toyota Motor Corporation in
Japan was a great vote of confidence in the ability of our company. It has
enabled us to respond to the needs of Australian motorists by introducing
fuel-saving and environmentally conscious technology as a mainstream
option," Mr Yasuda said.
Toyota plans to build 10,000 vehicles a year for the domestic market and
export 300 vehicles to New Zealand. Hybrid Camry will be released to the
market in February 2010. Pricing and specifications will be available closer
to the launch. Hybrid Camry is currently produced in Australia, Japan,
United States and Thailand.
*Fuel savings data based on ADR 81/02
combined cycle. Fuel consumption and emissions will vary depending on
driving conditions/style, vehicle conditions and options/accessories. Source
of competitor emissions and fuel economy data, greenvehicleguide.gov.au, 11
December 2009.
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