Toyota Camry will be discontinued in Japan; New models to be offered in foreign markets only

RahulNagaraj · 26th March 2023, 10:48

According to reports, Toyota Motor will be discontinuing sales of its popular Camry sedan in the Japanese market.

The company is already said to have notified its dealerships that they will stop domestic sales by the end of the year. Toyota though will continue production for export purposes. The domestic sales will discontinue in a phase-wise manner, with Toyota already having stopped taking new orders for the sedan. The new Camry models which are under development by Toyota will be sold exclusively in international markets.

Toyota Camry will be discontinued in Japan; New models to be offered in foreign markets only-camryhybrid.jpg

The Toyota Camry has been on sale since 1980. Today, the flagship sedan from Toyota is offered in over 100 countries with cumulative sales of over 21 million by the end of 2022. The Toyota Camry is especially popular in the USA, registering more than 13 million units. It was also the top-selling passenger vehicle in the USA for 15 years straight until 2016.

The Camry also enjoys good demand in other global markets. However, the same it seems, cannot be said about its sales in the home market. The sedan managed to sell just 6000 units in Japan last year, as SUVs and minivans are gaining more popularity in the Japanese market.

Source: Asia.Nikkei

Link to Team-BHP news

Contrapunto · 27th March 2023, 13:28

There is more to this news than meets the eye. Maybe Toyota has seen the light, finally and doubling down on electrification?

Also, Japan is expected to soon see an onslaught of Chinese EVs- I posit that Toyota probably foresees customer demand shifting away from expensive upper-mid-tier sedans.

sumeethaldankar · 27th March 2023, 13:46

Japan is more fond of small cars. The Camry is fairly long by Japanese standards so this is nothing surprising. Reminds me of a TV item related as to why American cars failed in Japan as they were way to big and bulky for Japanese buyers.

Viju · 27th March 2023, 14:02

The Camry was never a popular car in Japan, even by sedan standards. The default Japanese sedan has always been the Crown. Now that sedans have fallen out of favor, even the Crown has transformed into a coupe SUV, with the sedan version coming later.

None of the JDM sedans (Fuga, Cima, Skyline, Camry, Accord, Civic, Legend) have been hot sellers. Those who want a sedan other than the Crown either go for the Germans, or the Lexus ES / LS.

Pontiac · 27th March 2023, 23:19

Unlike in the United States, the Japanese absolutely despise FWD long cars. I have heard this on multiple occasions from my Japanese friends. They vouch for the low sales due to this fact. One of the very reasons why they love the LS or German equivalents.

26th March 2023, 10:48	#1
RahulNagaraj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,675 Thanked: 25,323 Times View My Garage	Toyota Camry will be discontinued in Japan; New models to be offered in foreign markets only According to reports, Toyota Motor will be discontinuing sales of its popular Camry sedan in the Japanese market. The company is already said to have notified its dealerships that they will stop domestic sales by the end of the year. Toyota though will continue production for export purposes. The domestic sales will discontinue in a phase-wise manner, with Toyota already having stopped taking new orders for the sedan. The new Camry models which are under development by Toyota will be sold exclusively in international markets. The Toyota Camry has been on sale since 1980. Today, the flagship sedan from Toyota is offered in over 100 countries with cumulative sales of over 21 million by the end of 2022. The Toyota Camry is especially popular in the USA, registering more than 13 million units. It was also the top-selling passenger vehicle in the USA for 15 years straight until 2016. The Camry also enjoys good demand in other global markets. However, the same it seems, cannot be said about its sales in the home market. The sedan managed to sell just 6000 units in Japan last year, as SUVs and minivans are gaining more popularity in the Japanese market. Source: Asia.Nikkei Link to Team-BHP news
	(14) Thanks

27th March 2023, 13:28	#2
Contrapunto BHPian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 666 Thanked: 1,086 Times	Re: Toyota Camry will be discontinued in Japan; New models to be offered in foreign markets only There is more to this news than meets the eye. Maybe Toyota has seen the light, finally and doubling down on electrification? Also, Japan is expected to soon see an onslaught of Chinese EVs- I posit that Toyota probably foresees customer demand shifting away from expensive upper-mid-tier sedans.
	() Thanks

27th March 2023, 13:46	#3
sumeethaldankar Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,140 Thanked: 3,661 Times View My Garage	Re: Toyota Camry will be discontinued in Japan; New models to be offered in foreign markets only Japan is more fond of small cars. The Camry is fairly long by Japanese standards so this is nothing surprising. Reminds me of a TV item related as to why American cars failed in Japan as they were way to big and bulky for Japanese buyers.
	() Thanks

27th March 2023, 14:02	#4
Viju Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tokyo / Cochin Posts: 1,189 Thanked: 3,359 Times View My Garage	Re: Toyota Camry will be discontinued in Japan; New models to be offered in foreign markets only The Camry was never a popular car in Japan, even by sedan standards. The default Japanese sedan has always been the Crown. Now that sedans have fallen out of favor, even the Crown has transformed into a coupe SUV, with the sedan version coming later. None of the JDM sedans (Fuga, Cima, Skyline, Camry, Accord, Civic, Legend) have been hot sellers. Those who want a sedan other than the Crown either go for the Germans, or the Lexus ES / LS.
	(3) Thanks

27th March 2023, 23:19	#5
Pontiac BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 126 Thanked: 179 Times View My Garage	Re: Toyota Camry will be discontinued in Japan; New models to be offered in foreign markets only Unlike in the United States, the Japanese absolutely despise FWD long cars. I have heard this on multiple occasions from my Japanese friends. They vouch for the low sales due to this fact. One of the very reasons why they love the LS or German equivalents.
	(2) Thanks