Camry (Toyota)

On May 8, Toyota began production of the ninth-generation 2025 Camry, which is powered exclusively with the fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System, part of Toyota’s multi-pathway approach to electrification.

The TMMK plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, with its nearly 10,000 team members, is the home of the Camry and has been a hub of the automaker’s North American operations since 1986.

Toyota’s most recent USD 1.3 billion investment in the Georgetown facility further boosts the company’s electrification efforts, including the coming assembly of an all-new, three row battery electric SUV for the U.S. market. 

The new vehicle supports Toyota’s multi-path approach to provide customers options for electrified products that best suit individual needs now and in the future.

Toyota has announced new investments totaling more than USD 18.6 billion into its U.S. manufacturing operations since 2021 to support electrification efforts.

(Toyota press release on May 8, 2024)

Note: Some figures were updated on May 7.

U.S. new vehicle sales of 1,327,976 units for the month of April represented a decrease of 8.1% from March and a decrease of 2.4% from one year ago in April 2023.

There were 25 selling days in April 2024, one less than the 26 days in April 2023.

April’s passenger car sales decreased 10.7% to 264,482 units, resulting in a 19.9% market share, while SUV and truck sales decreased 0.1% to 1,063,494 units, resulting in an 80.1% market share.

Light vehicle seasonally adjusted annualized sales (SAAR) for April 2024 was 15.9 million units versus 15.77 million units one year ago.

General Motors monthly sales decreased 2.2%, Ford sales decreased 2.2%, but Stellantis sales dropped 25.9%.

As EV competition intensifies, Tesla sales decreased 17.4% from last April to 47,300 units, giving it a U.S. market share of 3.5%.

EV startup Rivian sales were down 5.9% to 3,939 vehicles, Polestar sales were down 45.1% from the same month last year to 450 vehicles, Lucid Motors sales were up 33.8% to 622 units, and newcomers Fisker sold 840 vehicles, while Ineos sold 543 SUVs.

Among Japanese companies, Toyota sales were up 13.7%, Nissan sales were down 11.2%, Honda sales were up 0.4%, Subaru sales were up 9.5%, Mitsubishi sales were down 19.1%, and Mazda sales were down 3.8%.

Hyundai sales were down 3.3%, and Kia sales were down 3.6%.

Among German companies, VW sales were up 27.2%, BMW sales were up 1.6%, and Mercedes-Benz sales were down 10.6%

Jaguar Land Rover sales increased 55.7% from last April, while Volvo Car sales increased 10.3%.

The best-selling models in April 2024 were:

  1. Ford F-Series (down 7.2% from April 2023)
  2. Chevrolet Silverado (up 8.1%)
  3. Toyota RAV4 (up 32.2%)
  4. Honda CR-V (up 1.4%)
  5. Tesla Model Y (down 9.1%)
  6. GMC Sierra (up 2.1%)
  7. Toyota Camry (down 8.6%)
  8. Ram Ram Pickup (down 35.9%)
  9. Honda Civic (up 35.1%)
 10. Toyota Corolla (up 27.0%)

(from Autodata results posted May 1, 2024)

On April 18, Toyota China announced that with the theme of “Co-creating a New Future for Automobiles”, it will exhibit a new product lineup at the Auto China 2024 in Beijing.

At the event, Toyota China will make the global debut of two new models of the bZ battery electric vehicle family. To be concurrently exhibited are intelligent hybrid electric models such as the 9^th-generation Camry, the new Prado, the new Crown, and the new Sienna.

A Toyota next-generation concept vehicle, which serves as a software-defined vehicle to fulfill different customers’ requirements, will make its Chinese debut.

Upholding the concept of “Mobility for All”, Toyota China will present blockbuster models of the GR performance sporty vehicle brand, new services for the elderly and the disabled, and the latest results of its partnership with Pony.ai for Level 4 Robotaxis.

From a Toyota China press release