Photo: Toyota
It's hard to comprehend how a car company originating from a World War II-struck Japan managed in 70 years or so to uplevel itself from being a small-time player to the world's greatest car manufacturer. Naturally, being a global automaker means you have to extend your operations all over the world.
Take for example Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky manufacturing plant. Opened in 1988, the first model produced at this facility was the V20 Camry sedan. Built between May 1988 through 1991, this was the first car wholly-made by Toyota in the U.S. all by itself.
Fast-forward a great number of years and the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky plant in Georgetown marks a big milestone: the 10-millionth vehicle made by the men and women working in this facility. Wanna guess what model is the celebratory car? Yup, it's a Camry. Specifically, a white Camry Hybrid.
A special ceremony was held Thursday, 29th of May, 2014, to celebrate the big event. Speaking to a crowd of employees, guests and reporters, Wil James, the factory's president, declared about the first ever Camry made here and the 10-millionth one: "Obviously, these two vehicles are worlds apart in many ways, but, at the same time, identical in others, particularly when it comes to craftsmanship and the care and love that went into their production."
He went on by saying: "Many people may be surprised at our growth and the success the past 26 years. I am not. We have the best, most dedicated work force in the world." It's damn right impossible to put the finger on that, but we'll give Toyota some credit because getting at the top of the global car manufacturing scene is pretty tough and demands a whole lot of effort from all the company's personnel.
According to the Japanese manufacturer's American division, the 10-millionth vehicle will be offered to a very lucky employee this summer as a prize in a blind draw competition. Camry aside, the Georgetown plant builds a number of other Toyota models, such as the Avalon and Venza. In 2015, the facility will start producing the first ever U.S.-made Lexus model - the ES 350.
Fast-forward a great number of years and the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky plant in Georgetown marks a big milestone: the 10-millionth vehicle made by the men and women working in this facility. Wanna guess what model is the celebratory car? Yup, it's a Camry. Specifically, a white Camry Hybrid.
A special ceremony was held Thursday, 29th of May, 2014, to celebrate the big event. Speaking to a crowd of employees, guests and reporters, Wil James, the factory's president, declared about the first ever Camry made here and the 10-millionth one: "Obviously, these two vehicles are worlds apart in many ways, but, at the same time, identical in others, particularly when it comes to craftsmanship and the care and love that went into their production."
He went on by saying: "Many people may be surprised at our growth and the success the past 26 years. I am not. We have the best, most dedicated work force in the world." It's damn right impossible to put the finger on that, but we'll give Toyota some credit because getting at the top of the global car manufacturing scene is pretty tough and demands a whole lot of effort from all the company's personnel.
According to the Japanese manufacturer's American division, the 10-millionth vehicle will be offered to a very lucky employee this summer as a prize in a blind draw competition. Camry aside, the Georgetown plant builds a number of other Toyota models, such as the Avalon and Venza. In 2015, the facility will start producing the first ever U.S.-made Lexus model - the ES 350.
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