---
title: "Toyota Exporting US-Made Tundra, Camry, and Highlander to Japan in 2026"
description: "It's official. After a report emerged Thursday that [Toyota]() intended to begin exporting the U.S.-built Camry, Highlander, and Tundra to Japan next year, the automaker has now confirmed the plan. And it's not exactly quiet about the reasons why."
date: "2025-12-19"
modified: "2025-12-19"
authors:
  - name: "Adam Ismail"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/toyota-exporting-us-made-tundra-camry-and-highlander-to-japan-in-2026"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Toyota News"
tags:
  - "Camry"
  - "Highlander"
  - "pickup"
  - "sedan"
  - "suv/crossover"
  - "Toyota"
  - "tundra"
---

# Toyota Exporting US-Made Tundra, Camry, and Highlander to Japan in 2026

![Toyota Tundra](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026_Toyota_TRDPro_Tundra_WaveMaker_5-copy.jpg>)
*\<em\>Nathan Leach-Proffer/Toyota\</em\>*

It's official. After a report emerged Thursday that [Toyota](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/toyota-news>) intended to begin exporting the U.S.-built Camry, Highlander, and Tundra to Japan next year, the automaker has now confirmed the plan. And it's not exactly quiet about the reasons why.

"By selling these three popular American models in Japan, Toyota will be able to meet the diverse needs of a broad range of customers, while also helping to improve Japan-U.S. trade relations," a [press release](<https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/43750365.html>) on Friday stated.

The [Camry](<https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2025-toyota-camry-review>) and [Highlander](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/2023-toyota-highlander-turbo-first-drive-review-features-price-options>) have been marketed in Japan before, but never the [Tundra](<https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2023-toyota-tundra-review-not-the-most-anything-and-better-for-it>). The move comes on the heels of a surprising display from Chairman Akio Toyoda, who [donned a MAGA cap and Trump t-shirt](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/tesla-now-requiring-its-american-cars-to-be-built-without-chinese-parts-tds>) during a NASCAR exhibition event at Fuji Speedway last month.

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026_Camry_SE_AWD_SupersonicRed_003-copy.jpg>)

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2024_Highlander_Turbo_XSE_WindChillPearl_017-copy.jpg>)

It also follows months of trade negotiations between the U.S. and Japan. Back in July, the Japanese government pledged to invest $550 billion in U.S. industry in exchange for lower tariffs on its goods, particularly cars. [Experts believe](<https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/12/16/economy/550-billion-pledge/>) it'll never come to pass the way the Trump administration expects.

In the meantime, Toyota has floated the idea of making its domestic retail footprint available to American automakers. And it'll reportedly make use of a new regulatory framework to bring these three models into Japan without the extensive safety certification that is typically necessary.

Besides Toyota, Nissan and Honda have also mooted selling U.S.-built vehicles in Japan. The former has [mentioned the Murano and Pathfinder](<https://www.autonews.com/nissan/an-nissan-murano-pathfinder-export-to-japan-from-us-import-trump-1025/>) as possible candidates; the latter hasn't been quite as specific, though the upcoming 0 Series EVs, which will be manufactured in Ohio, present an opportunity.

*Got a tip? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com*[](<https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail>)[](<https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail>)

## Author
Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/aismail.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/pioneerspine/>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/aismail1/>)