GEORGETOWN, Ky., June 28, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chad Lindon
has worked at Toyota in Georgetown,
Ky., for 22 years and said the 2018 Camry is the most
exciting vehicle launch he's seen, and for good reason.
"The 2018 Camry takes it to another level," said Lindon, a
Powertrain production team member. "It catches the eye. It has more
horsepower, better fuel economy, and new technology that customers
want. That all adds up to more job security and stability for my
family."
The excitement that has been building for months peaks today
inside Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., (TMMK) as team members
celebrate the launch of production of the 2018 Camry. The automaker
is upping the ante by crafting an ever-better Camry that
boasts an exhilarating design, refined interior, stirring driving
performance, cutting-edge safety and technology, and class-leading
fuel efficiency.
Lindon and co-worker Maigen Layne
can't wait to see the new models on the road. Layne, a five-year
team member who works as a safety team leader in bodyweld, says
"it's the best one so far," and plans to make it her next car. "I'm
proud to work on the best-selling car in America for 15 years
running. I test drove one of the first 2018 models off the line and
I know it will be a big hit."
The 2018 Camry will set the benchmark in the mid-size sedan
segment. It is the first vehicle in North
America designed and manufactured with Toyota New Global
Architecture (TNGA), a completely new strategy to the way the
company designs, engineers, and manufactures its vehicles. TNGA
will improve performance of all models, including increased fuel
efficiency, more responsive handling, and a more stable,
comfortable feel while driving.
"The launch of the next-generation Camry is important for Toyota
in America, and expands the company's footprint in and commitment
to Kentucky," said Wil James, president, TMMK. "We are proud to be
the first in North America to
produce a vehicle with TNGA. It's a testament to the skill and
dedication of our team members."
The next-generation Camry has a sleeker profile that offers
improved aerodynamics, a lower center of gravity, and a more rigid
body, allowing for a more comfortable and stable ride. In addition,
engineers incorporated a number of new noise, vibration and
harshness (NVH) countermeasures that were previously found
exclusively on luxury models such as sound-absorbing insulation in
the hood and upper and lower fender separator, as well as
foam/vibration dampening materials throughout the vehicle. The
driver-focused design also features the highest grade of soft touch
and premium materials on all surfaces of the cabin – dashboard,
instrument panel, center console, door trim, etc. Vehicles will
begin arriving at dealers in late summer.
TMMK recently hired more than 700 people to support the launch
of the new Camry, bringing the number of team members to an
all-time high of over 8,000. The largest Toyota plant in the world,
TMMK has produced more than 11 million vehicles in its 31 years,
including more than 8 million Camrys.
Earlier this year, Toyota announced a $1.33 billion investment at TMMK for TNGA
improvements and other makeovers that will modernize and streamline
the production process. TNGA allows for a more flexible production
environment, which will allow Toyota Kentucky to build ever-better
cars and respond quicker and more capably to customer demands down
the road. Since 1986, the plant represents a $7 billion investment. Across the U.S., Toyota is
investing $10 billion over the next
five years, adding to the nearly $22
billion the automaker has invested in the past 60
years.
Last year, TMMK produced more than 500,000 Camry, Camry Hybrid,
Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, and Lexus ES 350 vehicles, which represents
nearly a quarter of the total number of Toyota vehicles produced in
North America. A recent study by
the Center for Automotive Research shows Toyota Kentucky supports
nearly 30,000 jobs across the states (direct, indirect, and
spin-off). TMMK employees live in 80 Kentucky counties, and currently Toyota has
more than 100 suppliers located across the Commonwealth.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the
U.S. and North America for 60
years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation
mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that
time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have
contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of
more than 33 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14
manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than
46,000 people (more than 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North
American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold almost 2.7
million cars and trucks (2.45 million in the U.S.) in 2016 – and
about 85 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years
are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive
know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to
assist more people move more places. For more information about
Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.
TMMK Contacts:
Rick
Hesterberg (859) 351-4780
Ashley Chatham (859) 473-3709
Toyota Media Line: (469) 292-5100
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America