Production and Sales of 'Camry Hybrid' Begin in China

Tokyo―Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that today GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. (GTMC), TMC's joint vehicle-production and sales company with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (Guangzhou Automobile) in China, held a ceremony and press conference in Guangzhou, Guangdong, to mark the beginning of production and sales of the "Camry Hybrid" sedan. Sales start at 107 of GTMC's dealers but are planned to eventually expand to its entire dealer network.

Approximately 350 people attended the ceremony, including local and central government officials, various suppliers, dealers and members of the media.

More than half a million units of the non-hybrid "Camry" have been sold in China between its launch there in June 2006 and the end of February 2010. Plans call for the Camry Hybrid to be priced between 319,800 yuan and 364,800 yuan.

TMC has been actively carrying out business activities aimed at popularizing hybrid vehicles in China. At the end of 2005, the "Prius" became the first hybrid vehicle to be launched in China. The Prius was followed in 2007 by the hybrid version of the Lexus-brand flagship, the "LS600h" luxury sedan, and the Lexus "RX400h*" SUV. The Camry Hybrid follows the Lexus "GS450h" sports sedan, launched in 2009, to become the fifth Toyota- or Lexus-brand hybrid vehicle launched in China.