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Lexus Announces Four New Dealerships For Four New Diversity Dealers

1 March 2000

Lexus Announces Four New Dealerships For Four New Diversity Dealers

    TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 29 -- Lexus, the luxury division of
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., today announced it has appointed four more
diversity dealers, each of whom will establish new open-point Lexus
dealerships.
    Four African Americans, H. Steve Harrell, Sr., Ellenae Henry-Fairhurst,
Winston Pittman and Sanford "Sandy" Woods, have signed letters-of-intent to
become Lexus dealers.
    "Lexus has the highest sales-per-outlet of any luxury franchise and, with
our strong sales, we saw the need to add some dealer points," said Lexus Group
Vice President and General Manager Bryan Bergsteinsson.  "Lexus also
understands that having a diverse dealer body makes good business sense, so we
are committed to increasing the number of minorities and women who own
dealerships.  This was a terrific opportunity to marry two important goals."
    With the addition of these four dealers, Lexus' dealer count expands to
177 dealers with 191 outlets.  The company's percentage of minority and
women-owned dealerships is now 6.2 percent.
    "We are excited about our new business partners.  Not only do they have
proven track records in running successful automotive franchises, but they
know how to satisfy customers," said Bergsteinsson.  "Both of these factors
are critical to the success of a Lexus dealership."
    Harrell will establish a new Lexus dealership in Union City, Ga., near
Atlanta.  Harrell bought his first automotive dealership in 1986 and currently
operates Stone Mountain Toyota in Stone Mountain, Ga.  Construction of the
South Atlanta Lexus dealership is anticipated to begin in June and the
facility is scheduled to be operating by December 2000.
    Ms. Henry-Fairhurst will be the president and general manager of a
Huntsville, Ala., Lexus dealership.  She has 31 years of automotive experience
and currently is the owner of Huntsville Dodge and Huntsville Infiniti.  She
is a prior Dodge Five-Star award winner.  Lexus of Huntsville recently broke
ground and will be open for business by August 2000.
    Pittman will be the president of a new Lexus dealership in Savannah, Ga.
Pittman got his start in the car business in 1975 as a salesman.  He went on
to purchase Cardinal Dodge in Louisville, Ky., in 1988.  Currently, he also is
the owner of Harbortown Toyota in Savannah, Ga.  The new Lexus dealership will
be constructed in conjunction with his expanding Toyota operation and is
scheduled to open in October 2000.
    Woods will be the president of a Lexus dealership in Ann Arbor, Mich.,
near Detroit.  Woods started in the auto industry in 1973 and purchased
Brandon Dodge in Brandon, Fla., in 1989.  He also owns Toyota of Stuart in
Stuart, Fla.  The dealership is expected to open in January 2001.