Camry hybrid needs government boost, says Toyota.

[Sport1vo]

Camry hybrid needs government boost, says Toyota.

Camry hybrid needs government boost, says Toyota

Toby Hagon, drive.com.au, 26/10/07

Toyota's Japanese management is "seriously considering" an Australian-built petrol-electric Camry, but is seeking assistance from the Federal Government. TOBY HAGON reports.

Toyota Camry

An economical, petrol-electric hybrid version of the Toyota Camry is on the wish list of Toyota’s global executives, although the company has called for assistance from the Federal Government.

Speaking at the 2007 Tokyo motor show, Toyota executives confirmed the company is considering adding a hybrid model to Toyota’s production line at Altona in Melbourne. But it would only be done if economic conditions were favourable.

In line with earlier comments from senior Toyota Australia executives, a hybrid version of the Camry would respond to concerns about fossil fuel use and carbon dioxide output by delivering a car that uses some 30 per cent less fuel.

“We are seriously thinking about the introduction of hybrid version, especially on the Camry,” says Toyota executive vice president, global planning operations, overseas, Tokuichi Uranishi.

But he warned that the strong Australian dollar and potential future import tariff reductions could jeopardise the plans.

“We have lots of alternatives, (we can) take (a hybrid car) from Japan … or Thailand,” he says. “We are doing business, therefore we have to seriously compare which is the most economical way.

“[With] the very strong Aussie dollar, local production is getting very [difficult]. We are carefully looking at the movement of future arrangement of the import duty.”

But Uranishi says the plan to build a hybrid car in Australia is being “seriously” studied and, provided the economics add up, could be in place by 2010.

Others within Toyota are more conservative, suggesting a hybrid Camry will not arrive until at least the next-generation vehicle due after 2010.

Toyota Australia's senior executive director of sales and marketing, David Buttner, told drive.com.au earlier this year: “We'd like to [build] a Camry hybrid. “We see real potential for such a vehicle, particularly with government and fleet buyers.”

The Government is also understood to be discussing ways of encouraging car makers to build a hybrid vehicle locally.

Uranishi made the comments while calling for a freeze on import tariffs at their current rate of 10 per cent. The Government has a plan to half the tariff to 5 per cent in an effort to improve the global competitiveness of Australia’s four car makers – Toyota, Holden, Ford and Mitsubishi.

He also warned that the strength of the Australian dollar is not conducive to expansion plans.

“We are suffering seriously from the currency exchange rate, with the export business,” says Uranishi. “The current [exchange] rate is very severe for Toyota.”

Uranishi also says the exchange rate rules out any chance of building a third model at Altona, scotching rumours that Toyota may produce the Camry-based Kluger 'softroader' alongside the Camry and Aurion.

[Wixy]

though it is a great sign, that an economical car just got a whole lot more economical, the government will only help out in the smallest way possible, either that or they will say they are helping out just to tally up more votes for the election to show their "concern" for global warming.

quite frankly, most governments dont give a rats a$$ about global warming. if governments were truly devoted to GW we would have stopped being so dependent on fossil fuels a long long time ago.

numerous university faculty members recently wrote thesis's re anti gravity/matter technology, and how we can travel without the use of fossil fuels, using highly charged electron-energy (something like that) to get from a to b. governments are keeping the "technology" secret inorder to fuel the rich bastards and their oils - those pricks.

opps.....perhaps a wrong direction in this topic...lol...