Pour One Out for the JDM Toyota Camry

Chris Teague
by Chris Teague

The Toyota Camry has been called many things over the years, but unpopular is not one of them. The car sold more than a half-million units globally last year, though the RAV4 outsold it. But while the suddenly-more-exciting sedan is a hot seller in most markets, its home country of Japan isn’t so in love with the car.


Nikkei Asia reported that Toyota plans to stop production and sales of the Camry for the Japanese domestic market, though the factory will still turn out cars destined for other countries. Toyota will phase the car out over time and will develop new models only for other markets. 


The Camry is America’s best-selling passenger car, moving more than 13 million units over the years. Though it’s often viewed as a rolling appliance here, buyers in China and Southeast Asia view the car as high-end and aspirational. That said, the American Camry has become far more exciting and engaging than it was in years past, with some variants pumping out as much as 300 horsepower from a lively V6.


Toyota has no public plans to discontinue the Camry here, but the Avalon got the ax last year. In its place, the automaker (re)introduced the Crown, a lifted, hybrid, all-wheel drive sedan with upscale leanings.


[Image: Toyota]


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Chris Teague
Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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  • Sckid213 Sckid213 on Mar 24, 2023

    I feel like the Camry in Japan is what oddballs like the Kia K9 and Hyundai Eqqus felt here. Obviously those were higher-end vehicles than Camry, but they felt like they were in the wrong dimension here in the U.S.

  • Jkross22 Jkross22 on Mar 24, 2023

    Ha, I didn't know the Crown is a replacement for the Avalon. I thought it was an ICE alternative to the Polestar 2.

  • Carlson Fan Carlson Fan on Mar 24, 2023

    Too bad they discontinued the Avalon. That's the only thing Toy motors sells in the US that I would ever consider buying.

    • Jeff S Jeff S on Mar 24, 2023

      They were nice. I think they didn't sell enough Avalons and they competed with Lexus but I agree they are really nice cars.


  • Cprescott Cprescott on Mar 27, 2023

    Please stop production of all Camry's - they are hideous and vomit inducing ugly.

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