Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced today that it would produce the Camry hybrid in North America starting in the second half of 2006.

This marks the first North American-based production of a Toyota hybrid vehicle.

Toyota will invest an additional $10 million in the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK) plant, which will produce the new hybrids. Toyota is setting an initial expected monthly production target of 4,000 Camry hybrids.

Besides the market-leading Prius, Toyota also offers (or will offer): the Lexus RX400h (since April 2005), the Highlander Hybrid (from June 2005) and the Lexus GS450h (in 2006).