Toyota launches 2007 Camry

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMPC) is optimistic of reviving sales of its luxury sedan Camry model with the introduction of its redesigned 2007 Camry which will now be imported from Thailand.

According to TMPC president Hiroshi Ito, TMPC is already ramping down its local production of the old Camry model in preparation for the local production of the more popular Vios model which sells an average of 800 units a month.

The new Camry would now be imported from Thailand. The more luxurious 2007 Camry, Ito said, is expected to sell much better at 140 to 150 units a month even though its carries a heftier price tag ranging from P1.43 billion to P1.99 million.

The 2007 Camry will come in three variants of 2.4 liter with a four-cylinder engine starting at P1.43 million, an ugraded 2.4 liter variant at almost P1.7 million and its top of the line 3.5 liter V6 model with a close to P2 million price tag.

Toyota’s best sellers, Ito admitted, are the Vios, the Innova and the Fortuner.

Innova sales average around 1,000 units a month, while the Fortuners sells up to 700 units a month.

For this year, TMPC senior vice president Serafin Pantaleon said, TMPC is projecting total sales of 39,500 units for an almost 39-percent market share.

It Altis models sell around 350 units a month, while its Hilux pick-up models sells about 250 units a month.

Its mid-size sports utility vehicles, the RAV 4 sells about 80 units a month.

Local assembly of the popular Vios model in the country will begin in July or August next year as TMPC discontinues the local manufacture of the Altis and Camry models.

At present, TMPC locally assembles the Camry, the Innova and Altis models.

TMPC last year assembled locally 829 units of the premium Camry sedan, 4,121 units of the Altis sedan and 12,876 units of the Innova.

TMPC imports the Fortuner, Hilux pick-up, RAV-4 sports utility vehicle and Vios models as completely-built-up units.

TMPC is expected to put in additional investments for the assembly of the Vios, Ito said, in the form of local components.

TMPC would then just import the Altis and Camry model from Thailand which has a much bigger market for the sedan.

Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. manufactures the Camry, Altis and Vios models in its Gateway facility, while its other facility assembles the Hilux pick-up and Fortuner model at its Samrong facility.

However, Toyota Thailand is projecting an enviable production this year of 460,000 units.

TMPC’s production, in comparison, pales at around 25,000 annually, although its Sta. Rosa plant has a 50,000 unit capacity.

The Altis currently retails for P957,000 for the 1800 cc engine and P723,000 for the 1600 cc engine.

The Vios is more affordable to Filipinos with a price tag of P553,000 for the 1300 cc engine and P722,000 for the 1500 cc engine.