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Lexus Reports Its Best-Ever April; Year-To-Date Sales Up 38.6 Percent

4 May 1999

Lexus Reports Its Best-Ever April; Year-To-Date Sales Up 38.6 Percent

    TORRANCE, Calif., May 3 -- Today Lexus reported April sales
of 15,362 cars and sport utility vehicles (SUV), representing a 23.7 percent
increase over the same month last year.  Year-to-date sales of 55,678 are up
38.6 percent.
    The top-selling model continues to be the hybrid SUV, RX 300, with
month-end sales of 5,556, an increase of 77.6 percent from last April.  The
LX 470 premium luxury SUV also had an outstanding month with 1,380 units sold,
up 37.9 percent from a year ago.
    Overall car sales were up 1.9 percent in April with the ES 300 near luxury
sedan leading the way.  The Coach Edition and Lexus Value Package models
helped the ES 300 post sales of 4,024, a 19.1 percent increase from the same
period last year.  The GS 300 high performance sports sedan had 2,005 units
sold, up 4.9 percent from April 1998.  The V8-powered GS 400 sedan had sales
of 731, while the LS 400 premium luxury sedan ended the month with 1,446 units
sold.  The SC 300 and SC 400 sport coupes posted sales of 220.
    "The momentum continues in the automotive market," said Bryan
Bergsteinsson, Lexus group vice president and general manager.  "RX 300 sales
are up again as the popularity of SUVs stays strong, but we're also happy to
see sedans holding steady as well.  With sales up nearly 40 percent for the
year, Lexus is well on its way to setting a new sales record for 1999."