Lexus
Lexus is the luxury vehicle division
of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation.
First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus
is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling
make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed
in over 70 countries and territories worldwide,
and has ranked among the ten largest Japanese global
brands in market value. Lexus is headquartered in
Toyota City, Japan, with major operational centers
in Brussels, Belgium, and Torrance, California,
United States.
Lexus originated from a clandestine flagship sedan
project, code-named F1, which began in 1983 and
culminated in the launch of the original Lexus LS
in 1989. Subsequently, the division added sedan,
coupé, convertible, and SUV models. In 2005,
a hybrid version of the RX crossover debuted, and
additional hybrid models later joined the division's
lineup. In 2007, Lexus launched its own F marque
performance division with the debut of the IS F
sport sedan, followed by the LFA supercar in 2009.
From the start of production, Lexus vehicles have
been produced in Japan, with manufacturing centered
in the Chubu and Kyushu regions, and in particular
at Toyota's Tahara, Aichi, Chubu and Miyata, Fukuoka,
Kyushu plants. Assembly of the first Lexus built
outside the country, the Ontario, Canada-produced
RX 330, began in 2003. Following a corporate reorganization
from 2001 to 2005, Lexus also operates its own design,
engineering, and manufacturing centers, solely responsible
for the division's vehicles.
(Source: Wikipedia.org)
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