Lexus was established in 1989 by Toyota Motor Corporation as its luxury vehicle division, developed through a decade-long internal project codenamed F1 to compete with European premium brands.
The brand sells roughly 750,000 vehicles annually across more than 90 countries, with the United States and China as its two largest markets.
Lexus is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, and operates as a wholly owned division of Toyota Motor Corporation today.
About Lexus
| Sector | Automotive |
| Industry | Luxury Vehicles |
| CEO | Koji Sato (Toyota / Lexus) |
| Website | lexus.com |
| Headquarters | Nagoya, Japan |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Status | Division of Toyota Motor Corp. |
Lexus Founders
Ichiro Suzuki
Chief Engineer, F1 Project (LS 400 Lead Developer)
Toyota Motor Corporation
Parent Company & Founding Entity (1989)
Lexus History
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1989
Lexus launches at the Chicago Auto Show with the LS 400 sedan, entering the US luxury market against BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
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1990
Lexus issues a voluntary recall of 8,000 vehicles and hand-delivers repaired cars to customers, establishing its reputation for customer service standards.
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1998
Lexus introduces the RX 300, one of the first luxury crossover SUVs, which becomes its best-selling model for decades.
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2005
Lexus launches the RX 400h hybrid SUV, becoming the first luxury automaker to sell a hybrid crossover in the United States.
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2012
Lexus redesigns its entire lineup around the spindle grille, marking a deliberate shift toward sportier styling under a new design language.
FAQs
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When did Lexus come out?
Lexus officially launched on August 25, 1989, in the United States with the debut of the LS 400 and ES 250 sedans. The brand was unveiled to the public at the Chicago Auto Show earlier that year. -
Who owns Lexus?
Lexus is wholly owned by Toyota Motor Corporation, a Japanese multinational automaker. It is not a separate publicly traded company but operates as Toyota's dedicated luxury and performance vehicle division globally. -
Who made the Lexus logo?
The Lexus "L" emblem was designed by Hunter Wolfe, an American graphic designer, in 1987 as part of a competitive selection process. The stylized chrome oval logo has remained largely unchanged since the brand's 1989 launch. -
Is Lexus an American company?
No. Lexus is a Japanese luxury vehicle brand owned by Toyota Motor Corporation, headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. It was created to compete in the American luxury car market but has always been a Japanese brand.