On the Dash:
- Toyota will export U.S.-produced Camry, Highlander, and Tundra models to Japan starting in 2026.
- The move is part of Toyota’s strategy to influence U.S.-Japan trade relations and appeal to President Trump.
- Market challenges remain as Japan favors smaller vehicles, and SUVs and pickups are not top sellers.
Toyota announced Friday that it will export three U.S.-produced models to Japan in 2026: the Camry sedan, Highlander SUV, and Tundra pickup truck. The vehicles are built in Kentucky, Indiana, and Texas, respectively, and mark the Japanese automaker’s latest effort to court the Trump administration amid ongoing trade tensions.
The company said the move is intended to better serve a wide range of customer preferences while also supporting improved trade relations between Japan and the U.S. The announcement comes after a series of high-profile gestures by Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, including his appearance at a November NASCAR event in Japan wearing a red MAGA hat and a T-shirt featuring President Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
In May, Toyoda suggested to then-Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba that American automakers could sell vehicles in Japan through Toyota’s domestic sales network, a proposal tied to the broader U.S.-Japan trade deal. That deal included a demand for Japan to “open their country” to U.S. car exports.
While the plan positions Toyota favorably with the U.S. administration, challenges remain. Japan’s narrow roads and limited parking make large vehicles less popular, and SUVs and pickups are typically not top sellers. Meanwhile, President Trump has signaled plans to allow small Asian “Kei” cars to be sold in the U.S., despite concerns over their size and safety on American roads.
