The Toyota Crown sedan and SUV are reportedly being built for the US.

The Toyota Crown may be undergoing its biggest model change since it was introduced in 1955. [The Crown is a large sedan, now in its 15th generation, and the latest generation is closely related to the Toyota Mirai and Lexus LS. Although no longer sold in the U.S., it is important because it is Toyota's flagship model (Toyota also has the Century, a luxury sedan sold at Bentley prices) and because the first generation Crown was the first passenger car developed and built in Japan.

Reuters reported Thursday, citing anonymous sources, that Toyota plans to launch a redesigned Crown sedan this summer, followed a year later by a new Crown SUV The SUV will have hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicle options and will reportedly be exported to North America and China. The hybrid version is slated for a mid-2023 launch, while the electric version is expected to go on sale early the following year. According to sources, export plans for the electric Crown SUV have not yet been determined.

Production of the sedan and SUV will reportedly take place at a plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

At its peak in 1990, annual sales of the Crown exceeded 200,000 units. Last year, Toyota sold only 21,000 units in Japan, the sedan's primary market. Adding the more popular SUV body style and opening up new markets should ensure that the Crown nameplate will endure for years to come.

The Crown SUV could be associated with a new Lexus SUV alongside the flagship Lexus LS and LC, possibly even sporting an LQ badge The Lexus LF-1 Limitless Concept, unveiled in 2018, is believed to preview a new Lexus SUV It is believed to be a preview of the new Lexus SUV.

Note that both Toyota and Lexus plan to launch U.S.-built three-row SUVs in the near future. These will be manufactured at a plant in Princeton, Indiana. Toyota expects to call it the Grand Highlander and Lexus the TX. Stay tuned.