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Lexus Year-to-Date Sales Up 58.6 Percent

4 November 1998

Lexus Year-to-Date Sales Up 58.6 Percent, SUVs Account for 40 Percent of Sales

    TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 3 -- Lexus' successful momentum
continued last month with best-ever October sales of 14,428, up 57.7 percent
over last year.  Thanks to the addition of the innovative RX 300, all-new LX
470 and the redesigned GS series, Lexus year-to-date sales of 126,702
represents a 58.6 percent increase over the same period last year.
    The RX 300 luxury mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) continued to be
Lexus' top-selling model with sales of 4,541.  The LX 470 full-size premium
luxury SUV enjoyed its best month in history with sales of 1,332, an increase
of 195.3 percent over last October.  Lexus SUVs accounted for 40 percent of
overall sales, a strong indicator of the popularity of the luxury SUV segment.
    Sedan sales also remained strong with ES 300 entry-level luxury sedan
sales of 4,162, up 7.5 percent over last October.  The redesigned GS 300 had a
solid month with sales of 1,714, an increase of 67.1 percent from last year.
The flagship LS 400 prestige luxury sedan posted sales of 1,768, down 10.4
over last year, while GS 400 sales of 689 also are down 52.5 percent.  The SC
300 and SC 400 ended the month with sales of 222.
    "In spite of the recent emphasis on economic uncertainty, consumers seem
to be confident about purchasing Lexus vehicles," said Bryan Bergsteinsson,
Lexus group vice president and general manager.  "With our two new SUVs and
our strong line-up of sedans, we're on track to exceed our previous annual
sales record by nearly 60 percent."