---

Hot Lexus Sales Make it the Top Luxury Brand For First Quarter '99

9 April 1999

Hot Lexus Sales Make it the Top Luxury Brand For First Quarter '99

    TORRANCE, Calif., April 8 -- With sales of 41,316, Lexus sold
more vehicles in the first three months of 1999 than any other luxury make,
marking the first time the brand has outpaced rivals Mercedes-Benz, BMW,
Lincoln and Cadillac for a full quarter.
    "Our sales results from the first quarter aren't just strong, they're also
steady," said Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager Bryan
Bergsteinsson.  "This is proving to us that our varied product line-up is
helping us compete throughout all segments of the luxury market."
    Lexus sales have increased 90 percent in two years and currently are 45.2
percent ahead of 1998's pace.  Accounting for much of that growth is the
segment-defining RX 300 mid-size sport utility vehicle.  The RX 300, which
debuted a year ago, had its best month ever in March with sales of 5,860.  The
Lexus GS 300 also sold well in the first quarter, increasing sales 27.4
percent from last year.
    First-quarter sales for Lexus luxury rivals were: Mercedes-Benz-40,536;
Lincoln-36,985; Cadillac-36,284 and BMW-35,808.