On June 3, Toyota Motor Corp. announced it will start reverse-importing the Camry sedan built in the United States for the Japanese market, with shipments expected to begin as early as autumn this year.
The decision comes amid repeated criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over America's trade deficit with Japan and other nations. Reverse-importing the U.S.-manufactured Camry is seen as Toyota's step to defuse trade friction and demonstrate goodwill in narrowing the bilateral trade gap.
Under the plan, Toyota will bring in about 2,000 Camry units annually from its Georgetown, Kentucky, plant. This marks the first time Toyota has reverse-imported a U.S.-built vehicle to Japan in significant volume, though it has done so for other models in the past.
The U.S.-assembled Camrys are expected to be sold at Toyota dealerships across Japan, with pricing yet to be disclosed. The company said it will adjust vehicle specifications to suit the Japanese market.
