---

Lexus Remains Top-Selling Luxury Nameplate Through Third Quarter

5 October 1999

Lexus Remains Top-Selling Luxury Nameplate Through Third Quarter; Company Approaches One Millionth Milestone

    TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 5 -- Lexus' sales momentum continued
in September with 13,674 units sold, an increase of 11.4 percent from 1998.
With sales of 934,254 vehicles in the United States since its launch in 1989,
Lexus will sell its millionth vehicle later this year.
    September results bring Lexus' year-to-date total sales to 137,668 units,
22.6 percent ahead of last year's record pace.  Lexus remains ahead of the
luxury competition by 1,664 units with other manufacturers' sales as follows:
Mercedes-Benz, 136,004; Cadillac, 133,489; Lincoln, 128,604; BMW, 116,308.
    Topping last month's list is the RX 300 mid-size luxury sport utility
vehicle (SUV) with sales of 5,520, a 39.0 percent increase from a year ago.
RX 300 year-to-date sales of 52,124 units represents an 89.0 percent increase
from 1998.  The LX 470 premium luxury SUV also had a strong month with 1,036
units sold, up 2.5 percent from last year.  This model is also far ahead of
last year's pace with year-to-date sales of 11,254, an increase of 61.3
percent.
    Sales of Lexus passenger cars overall were down slightly, but the GS 300
had a strong month with sales of 2,211 units, up 44.6 percent from 1998.  The
SC 400 and 300 also posted increased sales with 302 units representing a 38.0
percent increase from last September.
    "If we can maintain this sales lead through the end of the year, it will
be the first time an import brand has ever taken the No. 1 title in the U.S.
luxury market," said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Bryan
Bergsteinsson.  "But the competition is right on our heels, and we have to
keep in mind that customer satisfaction is our first priority.  If we can
maintain high customer satisfaction and the sales lead, we'll have had the
best year in our 10-year history."
    Also notable are Lexus' sales per dealer statistics.  With 174 dealers in
the United States, year-to-date sales per dealer are 790 units, considerably
higher than the competition.  "Strong sales per outlet positively influences
dealer profitability," said Bergsteinsson.  "And our dealers choose to
reinvest these profits into programs that directly benefit their customers.
It's a great approach and the basis of the Lexus philosophy that the customer
is No. 1."