Filed under:
Sedan,
Toyota,
South Korea
The
2013 Toyota Camry is officially the car of the year in
Korea. The country's motoring press graced the Japanese sedan with the honor for the first time, officially marking a shift in prevailing Korean attitudes toward
Japan and its products. According to industry analysts, buyers in the country are no longer simply choosing their purchases based on whether or not they're made in South Korea, but rather based on quality and personal choice. That's a big jump from a few years ago, when buyers viewed their purchases through a patriotic lens.
The Camry managed to edge out a total of 44 other cars, including hardware from both
Hyundai and
Kia, to become the first foreign vehicle to take home the Korea Automobile Journalist Association's Car of the Year award. As
The Detroit News points out, just 10 years ago, domestic manufacturers held some 99 percent of the Korean car market. But a change in trade regulations has opened up the country considerably, and buyers now have access to a wide range of products from around the globe. As a result, Hyundai and Kia have countered by cutting prices in an attempt to keep their grip on the market.
Why Toyota Camry's Korea Car of the Year win is a big-time upset originally appeared on
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