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Toyota and Lexus Announce Additional Diversity Dealers

22 July 1999

Toyota and Lexus Announce Additional Diversity Dealers

    TORRANCE, Calif., July 21 -- Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
(TMS) today announced the appointment of four more diversity dealers to its
Toyota and Lexus dealer networks.
    "While dramatic changes in the automotive retail world have created
challenges, and desirable dealerships continue to be snapped up by publicly
owned corporations, we are proud of our steady progress toward a more diverse
dealer body," said TMS Executive Vice President Jim Press.
    "Toyota and Lexus have added 14 minority- and female-owned dealerships in
the past year and have improved overall diversity representation 22 percent in
the last four years, while our total dealer body has grown less than one
percent during that same period," he noted.
    The Toyota Division has named Larry Brown as dealer principal of Star
Toyota in Merrillville, IL.  Brown, who is African American, serves on the
board of directors of the National Automobile Dealers Association.
    Phillipi Sparks has acquired ownership of Planet Toyota in Sanford, N.C.
Sparks also is African American.
    Cassandra Wright has been named dealer principal of Wright Toyota in
Bakersfield, CA.  Wright becomes the 30th woman to currently own a Toyota or
Lexus dealership.
    Winston Pittman has signed a letter of intent to establish a new Lexus
dealership to be located in Savannah, GA.  Pittman, a former president of the
National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers, also owns a Toyota
dealership in Savannah.
    "With these and our other dealer diversity actions, we intend to
demonstrate our commitment through results, not promises and through
sustainable success for our diversity dealers," said Press.  "TMS welcomes
these new dealers to the Toyota and Lexus families."