Toyota Is Bringing the Camry Back to Japan — but Not for the Reason You Think

Big in America, Not So in Japan

Calling the Camry a hit in the US would be a massive understatement. It was instrumental in making Toyota an even bigger household name, and it remains, by far, America’s favorite midsize sedan. It’s a totally different story in Japan, though.

In its home market, it’s not exactly a spectacular seller. Sales of the previous-generation Camry weren’t particularly great in Japan, leading to its discontinuation two years ago. At the same time, the Crown has been a longtime staple over there, and more buyers opted for that or stuck with the Corolla. The current model isn’t offered in Japan anymore, but it will be until next year.

Staging a Comeback For Appeasement

Now, Nikkei Asia has reported that the Camry will be back in Japanese showrooms in 2026. The Japan-market Camrys will be sourced from Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky plant, as the company does not have production allocation in its own backyard. Aside from the US, the midsize sedan is also being produced in China and Thailand.

Now, the reason it’s coming back to Japan isn’t because of demand per se. Remember, Toyota stopped selling it in its home turf in 2023. Instead, it’s the company’s move to soften the blow of trade deficits and appease the current administration. The Camry will be one of three American-made Toyotas sold in Japan. The other two are yet to be determined, although Japanese publication Best Car mentioned the Sienna being a possible bet.

Potential Challenges

On paper, it sounds like a good plan to boost production in the US, but there’s also the matter of logistics and the profitability of these cars once they reach Japanese showrooms. For starters, shipping from America to Japan won’t be cheap, and American labor costs could also drive up the price.

Building the car for Japanese specifications will be a factor, too. The plant has to accommodate production for right-hand drive, and some adjustments have to be made to suit the regulations abroad. The Camry is reasonably priced here, but add all that in, and its price could approach luxury car levels once it’s sitting in showrooms over there.

From a logical standpoint, it would be more cost-effective and logistically efficient to import the Camry from nearby Thailand or China if Japan really wanted the Camry back. Nikkei pointed out that the success of this plan will depend on Japan’s transport ministry’s willingness to simplify the approval process for imported vehicles.

“Reverse Importing” From the US Isn’t New

The whole concept of a Japanese car made in America, then being sold in Japan, isn’t new. Honda did that in the late ’80s and through the mid-’90s with the Accord. The coupe and wagon were built in Ohio. Interestingly, the parts came from Japan, were assembled in the US, and then returned to Japan.

Speaking of which, Honda is also considering doing that all over again. Like Toyota, it’s for appeasement. We previously reported that the Pilot and Ridgeline are likely candidates to be exported from Alabama. That said, Honda isn’t exactly shy about the fact that some of its JDM models are made elsewhere. For instance, the Japanese-market Accord and CR-V are sourced from Thailand, the Odyssey hails from China, and the WR-V mini-SUV is shipped from India.