Latest-Gen Toyota Camry Goes ICE-Only In Select Markets – Will Malaysia Get The Same?

The latest ninth-generation Toyota Camry for the North American market revealed earlier this year.

The new ninth-generation Toyota Camry that bowed earlier this year marked a paradigm shift, arriving into the North American market – arguably where it sells the best over the years – only with electrified hybrid petrol-electric (HEV) powertrain choices.

Beyond which, it appeared certain that perhaps one of the car world’s longest running and genre-defining sedan nameplate would be equipped similarly for other market. However, it seems that’s not the case given how the new Camry recently entered select markets without a HEV powertrain.

The latest ninth-gen Camry marketed by Toyota now in the Middle East. Notably, the Camry for said markets comes with ICE-only powertrains.

Instead, the familiar 2.5-litre VVTi 4-cyl petrol heart seen in the current Camry, along with its 8-speed automatic box, are retained for the ninth-gen Camry model that's now sold in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia – markets where Toyota’s hybrid powertrains aren’t really popular.

Besides going combustion (ICE)-only underneath, the new Camry sold in these markets sees no aesthetic changes and mirrors closely in appearance inside and out to their HEV-only counterparts marketed in North America.

Apart from the Middle East markets mentioned, the latest-gen Camry has also gone ICE-only in China, albeit with a smaller 2.0-litre 4-cyl mill instead. Additionally, the Chinese market Camry also bear some visual tweaks, namely through its restyled front and rear bumpers, amongst which.

Current-gen Camry Hybrid previewed locally last year. Up until this point, UMW Toyota Motor has yet to launch it, and we reckon the arrival of its ninth-gen successor in either powertrain version locally remains to be seen.

Closer to home, Toyota has yet to start marketing the latest ninth-gen Camry in any ASEAN markets. However, camouflaged prototypes of which have reportedly been spotted undergoing tests in Thailand recently, indicating that said Kingdom will be one of the first markets to launch it.

Its launch date remains uncertain, as is the possibility of the model being marketed either as a HEV-only or ICE-only offering. It’s worth noting that Thailand does have automotive laws and legislation favouring clean energy vehicles like hybrids (HEVs) and full-electric vehicles (EVs).

The current-gen Camry is marketed in Thailand presently with a hybrid powertrain choice in neighbouring Thailand, it seems likely to continue as a hybrid in said Kingdom with the ninth-gen successor.

That perhaps explains why Toyota has effectively electrified almost its entire passenger cars range for said market, so we can perhaps expect the new Camry to launch there as a HEV too. The story for us here just south of the Kingdom’s border however might pan out differently.

We say this on account that up until now, UMW Toyota Motor has NOT marketed the current-gen Camry in hybrid variant form yet. This also comes despite the fact that the firm previewed said hybrid variant locally twice – first time back in 2023 and again early this year at its Beyond Zero expo.

It’s worth noting that UMW Toyota Motor did market the previous-gen Camry with both ICE and HEV options side-by-side. However, legislations and incentives by the government at the time allowed the firm to localise (CKD) the Camry Hybrid and market it at a relatively reasonable price.

The current-gen Camry Hybrid previewed a second-time during UMW Toyota Motor's 'Beyond Zero' expo earlier this year. Would you still fancy this version of the Camry? Or would fancy a new ninth-gen successor instead?

While we won’t discount the possibility of said scenario returning, it still remains to be seen. Moreover, with rivals Honda and Nissan both pulling out of the D-segment sedans space, the return of the Camry in ninth-gen form on local soil also remains in doubt.

Nevertheless, what do you folks reckon? Should UMW Toyota Motor continue its presence in the D-segment sedans space with the next-gen Camry? And would you fancy it with a trick new electrified HEV powertrain? Share your take in the comments below, as well as our social media pages…