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Toyota's U.S. dealers are prepping for the launch of the revised 2015 Toyota Camry midsize sedan in 30 days and are planning to spend $1 billion this year to upgrade their facilities, according to Robert Carter, senior vice president of Toyota's U.S. automotive operations.
Carter, speaking to the J.P. Morgan Auto Conference on Tuesday, said dealers plan to target current and former Camry owners in the launch of the 2015 model.
Toyota's future-product direction will focus on "design, fun-to-drive and killer interiors," Carter said.
NEW YORK — Toyota's U.S. dealers are prepping for the launch of the revised 2015 Toyota Camry midsize sedan in 30 days and are planning to spend $1 billion this year to upgrade their facilities, according to Robert Carter, senior vice president of Toyota's U.S. automotive operations.
Carter, speaking to the J.P. Morgan Auto Conference on Tuesday, said dealers plan to target current and former Camry owners in the launch of the 2015 model.
"We're launching this new Camry in 30 days," Carter said. "We've sold 10 million since 1983. We want to communicate with (those customers) first."
Pricing has not been announced on the 2015 Camry. The upgraded Camry was unveiled at the 2014 New York Auto Show.
"This is a mega change to Camry and the most expensive mid-cycle change in our company's history," Carter said. "We are fully committed to keeping Camry No. 1 for a long time to come."
The Camry competes in a crowded segment that includes the 2015 Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Mazda 6.
Carter hinted at Toyota's future product direction in his remarks, noting: "The next chapter in Toyota's history will focus on design, fun-to-drive and killer interiors."
While not giving away any information about the future Toyota Prius, Carter said the "Prius is a little bit late in its life cycle. Stay tuned. It's a core volume sale for us and we're confident it will come back."
Carter had lots of praise for the automaker's U.S. dealers.
"We are blessed with an outstanding dealer network that's getting better every day," he said. "They develop long-term relationships with our customers."
In the past 10 years, Toyota and Lexus dealers have spent $8.1 billion to expand and upgrade their U.S. dealerships. Carter said they are projected to spend $1 billion this year alone on improvements.
"Our dealers give us a huge vote of confidence in Toyota's future," he said.
Toyota dealers are also pressing the automaker to bring the Toyota i-Road to the U.S. The i-Road is a cross between a motorcycle and a car and is designed for crowded city centers.
"I took a group of dealers to our engineering center," Carter said. "We hopped in the i-Road and took a little tour. They said, 'I need one. I want one today.' (But) We're not quite ready to bring it to market yet."
Edmunds says: If you're shopping for a midsize family sedan, the heavily revised Camry that goes on sale in September might be worth waiting for.
Its funny how the same company and make 2 totally different designs and one be terrible and the other be great for example the GS and now the new Camry... Lexus designers should design the camry, focus, avalon, and the entire line up...
Its funny how the same company and make 2 totally different designs and one be terrible and the other be great for example the GS and now the new Camry... Lexus designers should design the camry,focus, avalon, and the entire line up...
Aside from the C--pillar mistake, my one other small disappointment is the uninspired tail lights. They look fine but they are similar to a dozen older cars, several of them Toyota/Lexus. At least the current ones took a little thought to design. Tail lights are perhaps the easiest element of a car to get creative with and automakers often miss the opportunity.
Not to take it too far but the general shape is similar to even a 13 year old ES. They're just too safe which is at odds with the front that is risky for the conservative Camry buyer.
2015 Toyota Camry facelift
