In an effort to increase the worldwide popularity of hybrids, Toyota has announced it will begin building its Camry Hybrids in Thailand and Australia. The plan will be rolled out over the next two years with production at the automaker’s Gateway plant in the Thai province of Chachoengsao beginning in 2009, followed by production in Australia in 2010.
Toyota’s Gateway plant is slated to crank out 9,000 Camry Hybrids per year while Toyota’s Australian operations will produce 10,000 units annually.
“We decided to build the Camry hybrid in Australia because Australians are keenly aware of environmental issues including global warming,” Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe told Automotive News. The Australian government is keen on expanding hybrid production and will give Toyota $33.2 million (U.S.) for the local production of Camry hybrids.
The Camry Hybrid is currently built in Japan and Kentucky.
Although the move will only slightly boost its hybrid production, the added notoriety should help Toyota to ultimately reach its goal of selling 1 million hybrids annually be early next decade.
