Toyota Earns 10 Awards in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study - Lexus Has Top-Ranked Vehicle for Five Years in a Row

TORRANCE, Calif., May 18, 2005 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today set an award record in the 2005 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study(SM). The study measures problems per 100 vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership. Overall, Toyota, Lexus and Scion garnered 10 segment awards, more than any other corporation and a record for the most segment awards in one study. For the fifth consecutive year, Lexus is the top-ranked nameplate.

"The clean sweep of five individual segment awards by Lexus and the record 10 awards overall is a significant achievement," said Don Esmond, TMS senior vice president, automotive operations. "As we continue to expand our manufacturing operations globally, it is gratifying to see that we continue to prioritize quality."

The Lexus SC 430 hard top convertible and the LS 430 luxury sedan finished one-two in the study overall, as well as the premium luxury car segment.

In addition, the Lexus GS 300/430 was the highest ranked Mid Luxury Car. The SC 430 was the highest ranked Premium Luxury Car, followed by the LS 430. The IS 300 was the top-ranked Entry Luxury Car. The GX 470 luxury utility vehicle was the highest-ranked Premium Luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV) followed by the LX 470. The RX 330 was the highest ranked Entry Luxury SUV.

The Toyota nameplate tied the luxury segment average of 105 problems per 100 and finished seventh overall, up from eighth a year ago, and first among volume brands. Segment leaders included the Prius hybrid in the compact segment, while the RAV4 and 4Runner topped the entry SUV and midsize SUV segments respectively. The Toyota Sienna took top honors in the midsize van segment.

Toyota's Scion nameplate also showed well in the study. The Scion tC sport coupe was the sporty car segment leader in just its first year of study eligibility.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Platinum Award for top manufacturing plant globally went to the Tahara (Japan) plant which manufactures the LS 430 and GS 300/430. The Asia Pacific Silver Award went to the Higashi-Fuji plant where the SC 430 is built.