NAPERVILLE, Ill., Feb. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- With tensions over the Cold War relegated to the stuff of fictitious spy novels, movies and television, Toyota Motor Corporation has announced its plan to begin exporting the U.S.-built Toyota Venza to Russia and Ukraine starting relatively soon in 2013. Last year in 2012, Toyota sent more than 124,000 vehicles assembled in America to more than 20 world markets that counted for a 45 percent increase over the figure in 2011. Toyota of Naperville is proud to tout the success of its manufacturing partner in expanding the popular Toyota brand to the rest of the world's auto-driving community.

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"We are proud that Toyota's U.S. manufacturing operations are continuing to grow as a key supplier of vehicles for global markets, which is only possible thanks to the dedication and high-quality work of our team members here," Shigeki Terashi, president and COO of Toyota Motor North America, Inc said in a press release.  "We expect the export of Venza vehicles to Russia and Ukraine will help further solidify our U.S. manufacturing base."

The Toyota Venzas that are to be sent to the former Soviet Union will be built in the Georgetown, KY plant that was a $6 billion investment for Toyota and employs about 6,000 workers and is the largest Toyota manufacturing plant outside of Japan. Production of the 5,000 Toyota Venzas meant for Russia and Ukraine will begin in April of this year.

The 2013 Toyota Venza in Aurora, IL is a uniquely styled SUV/crossover/wagon combination that makes it comparable to many different vehicles in different automotive industry segments. The new Venza gives an elevated feeling to the driver, but not as high as a full-size SUV and still retains many sedan-like steering elements. Some online reviews have compared the Toyota Venza to the Ford Edge, Chevy Equinox and the Subaru Outback. These comparisons make the Venza a jack of all trades, type of vehicle. Some of the Venza's biggest praise has come from the trim models that contain the 3.5-liter V-6 with 268-horsepower that will accelerate the vehicle from zero-to-60 miles per hour in 6.9 seconds. A metric that is noticeably quicker than other vehicles in its class.

Toyota of Naperville offers one of the biggest selections of new Toyota cars in Aurora, IL while still maintaining a fleet of Toyota Certified Used Vehicles in Aurora. The entire new and used inventory at Toyota of Naperville can be viewed at www.toyotaofnaperville.com. For questions about the Toyota Venza or any other vehicle please call (877) 448-5152. The Toyota of Naperville showroom is located at 1488 West Ogden Avenue, Naperville, IL 60540.

Media Contact: Tom Gregg Toyota of Naperville, (877) 448-5152, tgregg@napervilletoyota.com 

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SOURCE Toyota of Naperville