The seventh-generation Camry (counting the Celica Camry as the first generation) was released in September 2001. At the time, the Camry was marketed in over 100 countries and was recognized as a world-class sedan. Its high performance and abundant power reserves had won great acclaim across the world, including the title of best-selling car in North America for four years in a row. Under the slogan, "World's Major Car for the New Century," the new Camry made a bid to become No. 1 in the world in terms of ride comfort, driving performance, quietness, and safety.

Camry's claim to global excellence was based on three "world sedan" features.
The first of which was packaging, including a wide cabin space and seating positions optimally designed for easy entry/exit. The second feature was performance, including a new platform, a newly designed suspension, a 2.4-liter VVT-i engine, and the efficient Super ECT system. And the last feature, safety and ecology, included the body structure conforming to the GOA collision testing standards, dual-stage SRS front airbags and SRS curtain shield airbags for front and rear seats, as well as compliance with the 1999 standards of 75% reduction in emissions for all models.