Hybrid Camry production commences

The locally-manufactured Camry Hybrid has been officially unveiled today at Toyota's Altona plant, where the car will be built for local and New Zealand consumption.

Attending the 'Line Off' ceremony were the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Victorian Premier John Brumby, federal Senator Kim Carr and Victorian Minister Martin Pakula. Ahead of his journey to Copenhagen to discuss global climate change, the PM delivered a speech welcoming Toyota's initiative to build the hybrid-drive sedan in Australia, one of just five countries entrusted to build the fuel-frugal car.

Among other invitees, including the Japanese ambassador to Australia, Takaahi Kojima, Toyota brought in Yukitoshi Funo, Executive Vice President of the Toyota Motor Corporation and a former CEO for Toyota Australia. Funo-san recalled with some fondness driving the family in a Corona to Uluru.

John Brumby, during his address to staff, dignitaries and the media, reiterated his previous promise that the Victorian government would pick up 2000 units of the hybrid Camry -- of the 10,000 units the manufacturer plans to build in the first year.

Toyota is yet to reveal pricing or full specs for the car -- such as range on battery power, for instance -- but David Buttner, he of Senior Executive Director Sales and Marketing for Toyota Australia fame, reckons that the Camry would use around 6.0L/100km in combined-cycle testing. The difference between the fuel consumption of the conventional Camry and the hybrid is expected to be around 35 per cent.

According to the specs Toyota has announced, the Camry with developed a combined power output of 140kW (2.4-litre petrol engine and electric motor combined) for a CO2 emissions figure under 150g/km.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, undoubtedly with global climate change uppermost in mind, took the opportunity to show his solidarity for the local automotive industry.

"This has been a tough time for the automotive industry globally -- and here in Australia. Car sales around the world have declined and they've declined in Australia too. It's easy to say that the industry's time is up, or that Australia's time as a car producer is up.

"That is not my view, that is not the union's view, that is not the workers' view, that is not the government's view and that is not Toyota's view. We intend to have this industry for Australia's future.

"Sure there are new technological, competitive and environmental challenges. There have been in the past; there will be in the future. Each of these challenges represents a new opportunity. With the right policy settings, with forward-leading leadership from the industry itself and from the workforce, the industry can adapt and become stronger than ever before.

"And today's achievement is proof of that. Today we see a win for motorists around the country, a win also for action on climate change, a win for jobs here at Altona and across Australia; and by working together -- the industry, the workers and government -- car-making does have a future in this country."

Follow the link to read our review of the Camry Hybrid in pre-production form.

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