[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 13 (Monday, February 23, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO THE TOYOTA CAMRY: AMERICA'S No. 1 SELLING CAR

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the employees 
at the Erlanger, Kentucky, headquarters of Toyota's North American 
manufacturing operations as well as those at the Georgetown Toyota 
assembly plant whose dedication and hard work have resulted in the 
Toyota Camry becoming the number one selling car in the United States 
for 1997.
  By recording its best-ever sales month in December, the Camry edged 
past traditional favorites--the Honda Accord and the Ford Taurus--to 
become the best selling car in the United States--the first time a 
Toyota automobile has been so recognized.
  Because dealers had a hard time keeping both the Accord and the Camry 
in stock this year, the primary factor in determining which model sold 
best was which company could get the most out of its assembly line. I 
am proud to report that, because of the industriousness of those men 
and women who work in the Georgetown plant, there were enough Camrys on 
dealer's lots to outsell both the Accord and the Taurus. And by the 
way, 80% of all Camrys sold in the U.S. have been assembled in 
Georgetown.
  This past year, the Camry plant in Georgetown increased production by 
12% over the previous year, mostly by improving efficiency on the 
assembly line and pressing suppliers to keep up with their demand for 
raw materials.
  Despite the tremendous growth this year, officials at the Georgetown 
plant say that they intend to build even more Camrys next year, as they 
improve the speed of the assembly line and further improve the plant's 
efficiency.
  Mr. President, again, I would like to congratulate all those men and 
women associated with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, particularly those in 
Erlanger and Georgetown, whose dedication and hard work made the Camry 
1997's top selling car.

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