You will not. Everyone will tell you there is no difference. Few will telly you - yours truly included - that they will swear by Japan built ones because they are better.
I can only speak of my own understanding of this. Yes, componentry may be the same.
Yes, assembly lines may be the same.
Yes, general workflow may be the same.
But thing is, Toyota draws professionals from all over the world to come and learn from how their cars are made. I believe, part of my unshaked faith into built in Japan is the workforce. The attitude. The Toyota meme, if you want to. Metaphysically, I believe that human spirit is embedded into inanimate objects, for good or bad. Whatever is done with love and care, will serve well. What is not, or with despise - won't.
Best I can explain it. Also, backed by years and quite a few MIJ cars we owned that simply refused to die.
I spoke.

 

It's generally thought that the Japan cars are better built and have less issues then the US vehicles. I can tell you that both Toyota and Georgetown dont believe it at all. In fact one of the major factors on the decision to build Lexus ES vehicles in Georgetown was because the warranty rate on the US cars is actually slightly (I mean very slightly) lower then the Japan cars. They do tend to have different issues, however their build quality is actually almost exactly even.

 

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...um/103-3rd-4th-generation-1992-1996-1997-2001/434889-japanese-vs-usa-built.html

“Made in Japan” is a stamp of honor worn by many Toyota vehicles in the United States. For decades, vehicles built in the Land of the Rising Sun were synonymous with quality and known for exceptional build quality. That’s still true today, but a future is in sight when all Toyota cars sold here in the U.S. will have also been built in North America.

http://blog.cargurus.com/2013/01/22/no-more-made-in-japan-toyota-vehicles-in-the-united-states

 

My Experience 2007/2016 Hybrid

I purchased my 2007 Camry Hybrid when it was right out of the box, July 2006. It was built in Japan as production didn't move to the US for a few months. I previously had a Japan built Cressida for 20 yrs. which I also loved. The 2007 had noise issues and finally the whole dash was taken out (yes scary I know!) but they fixed it. There were always noises from the rear parcel deck. This car has otherwise been great and it is still in the family.

I purchased a 2016 XLE Hybrid in January, I am very impressed with the fit and finish. It already has 9500 km and not so much as a squeak or issue whatsoever! I am very impressed with the Georgetown build.

I am wondering about one thing though as it was an issue with the 2007. The oil on the dipstick is down to the 3/4 mark. I read somewhere that a new car will use a little oil during breakin. I am hoping this is true and it will be fine from now on. It has already had a trip down to Palm Desert California and that is why it already has so many km on it. Cheers, Tom

 

Ok my 2 cents,
The parts/components, assembly, build process, training are the same whether the car is built in Japan or US. What make Japan built "better" than US built is the people who put all the parts/components together.
If person A proud of what he/she built/make/create vs person B doing it for a paycheck, of course, person A product will be obviously better.

 

Also it's the way Japenese work. They do not change jobs. They start at one place as teenager and they retire from same place.
Also, Toyota encourages reporting errors/issues or improvements that can be done. Personally, my job is based on "any initiative is punishable" principle. I long time ago quit trying to improve my company.
Also, when I worked in AL, they just opened Odyssey factory there. So I saw several patients that worked at assembly line. They HATED Japanese managers and supervisors for "inhumane" requirements to job quality. So when I bought my Ridgeline and saw all kinds of - minor- but noticeable - quality issues, this came back to my memory right away.

 

I don't think they import Camrys anymore. I thought that I read something that said that they stopped importing them back in 2010 or 2011.

 

I cannot say noticed any difference between my (former) Canadian made 04 Corolla and my parents 03 Japanese made ones. The ride was the same, and the built quality of mine seemed better to be honest. One of theirs had to be fixed due to a faulty weld, and the other had rattles in the speakers and other components. Mine on the other hand had none of those issues. The perception of "Made in Japan" quality comes down to is personal anecdotal experience, not any real data. I personally think that a well made car is a well made car, no matter where it is made.

I don't know how much longer the importance of made in Japan will matter anyway, since more and more of the labour force in Japan is made up of temporary foreign workers from China. How long will it take until that becomes true at companies at Toyota, sine Japan is facing a major problem in terms of population decline in the next few decades.

 

Honda manufacturing experiment - seems appropriate to the thread

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/...ssembly-line.html?utm_medium=display&utm_source=relatedscout&utm_content=title7

You all have given me so much to say on this subject, which I think easily goes beyond the Camry Hybrid forum, that it's left me speachless.

I spotted a new way of manufacturing as I was clicking around on "news ads" and I found the above to be interesting.

Honda is making a move to make their cars differently in Thailand. The parts are brought to this short U where the workers have more responsibilities instead of much less like what Ford originally brought to the assembly line.

They say they have 10% more efficiency. This makes sense to me in that employee satisfaction looks like it'd be greater to me. Plus, the tooling to be setup this way is actually less expensive.

So it's hitting manufacturing with some old school for success.

Read it for yourself, but that's my analysis on it.

 

To the OP. It's a crap shoot. There is no rhyme or reason to it.

If it makes you feel any better, mine was built in Kentucky and will have close to or over 300,000 miles by the time 2016 is over.

 

I can say that my wife's 2015 Prius C, made in Japan, is swimming in cheap plastic. It's like somebody ripped apart an iphone 8 or x and hard wired the components into the dash of a Yugo. My 2011 TCH doesn't have the brake or water pump issues of the 2007; but the interior is completely devoid of fit and finish, as well as swimming in NVH issues. Prius C=Japan: TCH=Georgetown, KY.

I would rephrase the question in the thread as Toyota vs Honda or another brand. American workers can do quality and integrity, as the Georgetown, KY plant made older cars that people liked.. If the Toyota CEO mimics GMs Roger Smith, the results will speak for themselves.