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Toyota To Make, Sell Camry Hybrid In China In 2010
30 June 2008
Nikkei. Toyota Motor Corp. will begin manufacturing the Camry Hybrid in 2010 at its joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Guangzhou Toyota Motor Co.
Toyota plans to produce 10,000 Camry Hybrids on the plant’s new second line, due to go operational in 2009. The factory will first produce the gasoline-powered Camry, with the hybrid version following. Key components will be imported from Japan.
Toyota has been making and selling the Prius hybrid in China since 2005, but 2007 sales stalled at around 1,000, or one-third of its target. The firm aims to retrench with a new offering, hoping to parlay the Camry's strong brand name into substantial hybrid sales. Some 170,000 of the gasoline-powered models sold in 2007.
The Chinese government recently hiked gasoline prices in response to the run-up in crude oil and is considering giving preferential tax treatment to eco-friendly cars. Eyeing these changes, Toyota plans to add production capacity of hybrid cars as part of its drive to double Chinese sales from 2007’s level to more than 1 million vehicles annually by the start of the next decade.
June 30, 2008 in Brief | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
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quite disappointing to hear about the poor performance of the Prius in China, but I suppose the relatively high sticker price and subsidised gasoline are not factors in its favour. hybrids are a chance for the Chinese to start their automotive history from a much more sustainable starting point, here's hoping they don't waste it.
Posted by: eric | Jun 30, 2008 1:42:22 PM
