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Lexus Sets All-Time Sales Record in 1999

5 January 2000

Lexus Sets All-Time Sales Record in 1999

    TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 4 -- Lexus' 1999 sales set a new
all-time record with 185,890 luxury cars and sport utility vehicles sold, an
increase of 19 percent over calendar year 1998 sales and a 90 percent increase
from 1997.  Monthly sales also remained strong for the luxury automaker,
setting a record for December with sales of 16,865.
    Sport utility vehicles (SUV) continue to be what customers want most.
RX 300 mid-size luxury SUV 1999 sales totaled 73,498, up 74.2 percent from
1998.  December sales marked an all-time best ever month for the popular SUV
with sales of 7,834.  The full-size luxury SUV, LX 470, also posted a
record-setting year with 1999 sales of 15,734, an increase of 43.0 percent
from the previous year.  The LX 470 also had its best December sales ever.
    Although SUVs are clearly in high demand, Lexus passenger cars held steady
for the year with sales of 96,658, slightly down by 6.2 percent from 1998.
The sporty GS 300 high-performance sport sedan had the greatest year-to-year
increase with sales of 24,990, up 20 percent from last year.  The GS 400 sold
a total of 6,894 in 1999.
    "Last year was a great year for Lexus," said Lexus Group Vice President
and General Manager Bryan Bergsteinsson.  "We're up 19 percent, while the
luxury market is up only about 13 percent.  We think this shows that our
combination of quality products and customer satisfaction is what is important
to consumers today."
    The flagship LS 400 premium luxury sedan ended the year with sales of
16,357, while the ES 300 affordable luxury sedan posted 1999 sales of
45,860.  The SC 300 luxury sport coupe sold 1,731 units in 1999, and the
SC 400 finished 1999 with sales of 826.
    Lexus expects 2000 to be a successful year as well with its passenger car
sales increasing with the introduction of two new sedans.  The IS 300, which
will make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, will join the Lexus line-up
in July, while the new flagship LS will debut at the North American
International Auto Show in Detroit.

                                  Dec. 1999              1999 Total
    LS 400                            742                  16,357
    ES 300                          3,877                  45,860
    GS 400                            413                   6,894
    GS 300                          2,171                  24,990
    SC 400                             48                     826
    SC 300                             88                   1,731
    RX 300                          7,834                  73,498
    LX 470                          1,692                  15,734
    TOTAL                          16,865                 185,890