China-made RAV4, Highlander to Debut in Shanghai

Tokyo, Apr 15, 2009; TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces plans to display approximately 50 production and concept vehicles, including the China-produced "RAV4" and "Highlander" SUVs-both being shown for the first time-at the 13th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, to be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center from April 20 to 28, 2009.

The theme "Environment, Safety and the Future" will cover both the Toyota-brand and Lexus-brand displays, which will be TMC's largest ever in China in terms of space and number of new vehicle models-eight-making their debut.

The Toyota-brand display area will showcase TMC's proactive stance toward environmental and energy-related issues through concept vehicles that include not only those making their Chinese debut, such as the "FT-EV" electric vehicle and "TOYOTA FCHV-adv" fuel-cell hybrid, but also the "i-REAL" personal mobility vehicle, "Hi-CT" urban vehicle and others.

At the Lexus booth, the "RX450h", a gasoline-electric hybrid crossover with sedan and SUV features, and the "IS300C", a convertible sports sedan, will both make their China debut.

In response to the expanding SUV market in China-and as part of TMC's efforts to offer a diverse array of vehicles in China-commercial production of the new RAV4 began at a joint-venture plant in Tianjin in March 2009, while commercial production of the Highlander is scheduled to begin at a joint-venture plant in Guangzhou in May 2009.