Toyota Appoints Diversity Dealers

TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 12 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced the appointment of several diversity dealers to its Toyota dealer network. The appointments were completed over the last four months.

Veteran automotive dealer Stephen S. Dominguez, of Hispanic descent, acquired Sunset Toyota, renamed Hometown Toyota, which is located in Ontario, Ore. Dominguez has owned and operated Hometown Motors in Weiser, Idaho since 1990.

Hispanic automotive dealer Santos R. ``Bob'' Zamora, purchased Merced Toyota, located in Merced, Calif. With an automotive career dating to 1972, Zamora has owned and operated numerous dealerships in the Stockton, Calif., area.

In Scottsbluff, Neb., African-American automotive dealer Larry D. Miles has acquired Scottsbluff Toyota. Miles' automotive career dates to 1985 when he first sold vehicles at a Colorado Toyota dealership. In 1988, he became an owner of the Eastridge Autoplex in Casper, Wyo.

A letter of intent for an all-new California dealership has been signed with the Penske Automotive Group. The Rancho Santa Margarita dealership is slated to open in 2003 under the direction of automotive sales veteran Renee Martinez Lawson. An equity partner in this new open point, Martinez Lawson is of Hispanic origin and will serve as general manager of the yet unnamed dealership. Martinez Lawson, an employee of Longo Toyota for over 16 years, is a product of Toyota's broadened diversity initiative that promotes meaningful participation in equity positions.

``Last summer Toyota announced its 21st Century Diversity Strategy, a component of which builds upon Toyota's and Lexus' industry-leading success in the area of diversity dealer operation,'' said TMS Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Press. ``The appointment of diversity dealers who distinguish themselves with proven track records is consistent with Toyota's goal to develop the breadth of its dealer network. This assures our continued prosperity in today's changing marketplace.''

With 97 dealerships owned by minorities or women, Toyota ranks second in the industry for percentage of minority ownership and first in minority dealership success. Toyota's dealer count in the continental United States is 1,199.

Established in 1957, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. is the sales, marketing, distribution and customer services arm of Toyota in the United States. Based in Torrance, TMS employs approximately 6,700 employees nationwide. Last year, it sold more than 1.7 million vehicles through approximately 1,400 Toyota and Lexus dealers in the 49 continental states