announces Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited (TMCA) marked the start of production of the "Camry Hybrid" in Australia at a line-off ceremony today attended by Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. TMCA intends to produce the Camry Hybrid at its Altona Plant at a pace of 10,000 units annually, 300 of which are to be exported to New Zealand, and plans to start selling it in Australia in February 2010.

"Toyota Australia will be only the fifth country in the world that produces hybrid vehicles and that makes me proud of Australia. I expect that this car will bring a new set of business opportunities to the local community so that the Australian and Victorian auto industry will step to the next level—both economically and environmentally", said TMC Executive Vice President Yukitoshi Funo.

Australian Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr; Victorian Premier John Brumby; other distinguished guests; TMCA President Masahide Yasuda and others also attended the ceremony.

TMCA, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year after being established in 1959 to produce and sell Toyota-brand vehicles, began production in 1963 with the Tiara and has now built more than 2 million vehicles. TMCA exported 70% of what it produced in 2008 and is now the Camry production and export base for Oceania and the Middle East.