Toyota will begin production of the latest version of the Camry at its St Petersburg plant in Russia on Wednesday (5 November), according to a Prime-TASS news agency report. The factory has begun taking orders for the new model from dealers and from authorised sales outlets in Russia and Belarus from Saturday (1 November).
The revised "European"-specification Camry first debuted in July 2014 with a number of detailed styling revisions, including redesigned headlights that now feature integrated light-emitting diode (LED) daytime-running lights. The new model also features some detailed rear-end styling revisions, with a thinner chrome trim on the boot lid, while the reflectors on the rear bumper have also been revised. The price of the revised Camry will start at RUB988,000 (USD22,886).
Significance: Toyota's St Petersburg plant has been manufacturing the Camry since the car went into production in 2007. The facility manufactured 35,700 units last year, a rise of 25% year on year (y/y). Toyota will add production of the RAV4 at the plant from 2016. The Camry has sold in steady numbers in Russia since the launch of production in the country, although Toyota has not been impervious to the 13% y/y decline in sales for the light vehicle market in Russia since the beginning of the year. Camry sales have stood up reasonably well in Russia, falling 1,384 units y/y to 24,708 units in the first nine months of 2014.
