Toyota Seeks Second Hybrid Model for North American Production

Washington DC November 8, 2005; The AIADA newsletter reported that Toyota is looking for a second hybrid vehicle to produce in North America, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The company announced earlier this year they would produce a hybrid version of the Camry at their Georgetown, Kentucky plant in 2006. Gary Convis, Toyota managing officer and senior leader of the company’s manufacturing operations, said the Lexus RX400h may be the best candidate to join the Camry in North America, since the company already produces its gasoline-powered Lexus RX330 in Ontario, Canada. "It all depends on volumes, but it might be easy [to produce the RX400h] since we’re already set up in Ontario,” Mr. Convis said in an interview. Other candidates for North American production include the Prius and a hybrid version of the Corolla.