Jun. 08, 2004
Lexus’ First Global Steps to Be Made in China
Toyota Announces 2004 Start of Exclusive Dealerships
Beijing―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today it plans to set up exclusive dealerships in four cities in China by the fourth quarter of 2004. This is the first time for TMC to introduce a Lexus-brand dealer network in China. “We believe China has the potential to be the top luxury car market in the world. We are committed to continuing our investments in China by bringing the best product, the best dealership and the best customer service. Lexus looks forward to being a major player in the luxury car market and contributing to the auto industry in China,” says Akio Toyoda, a senior managing director at TMC, the company that came up with the idea of creating a luxury vehicle to challenge the world’s best.
By the end of this year, TMC will establish six exclusive Lexus dealerships in four cities in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. TMC will invest heavily in these dealerships including construction, ensuring customer-oriented designs, as well as training of Lexus Associates. The Lexus dealer network in China is expected to increase to 14 by mid-2005.
With the launch of the exclusive dealer network, Lexus owners in China will be able to enjoy a comprehensive Lexus package of products and exclusive services. It is this superb attention to customer care―called the “Lexus Touch”―that made Lexus the No. 1-selling luxury auto brand in the U.S., a title it has retained every year since 2000. “I know that China and the United States are very different markets. But that intense focus on people is a universal principle of business success. So I am confident that Lexus will thrive here in China,” said Jim Press, chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
At a press conference held in Beijing on the eve of the annual Auto China 2004, Toyoda, together with Press, officiated a ceremony whereby a Lexus seal was imprinted on a framed scroll with the Chinese characters for the “Relentless Pursuit of Perfection”, symbolizing Lexus’s commitment to China. TMC is currently in the process of doing focus group studies to better understand luxury car buyers in China. “It’s very important that we listen closely to what our customers in China have to say. We are ready and willing to listen,” said Toyoda. He also expressed deep appreciation and gratitude to existing Lexus customers in China for their support over the years.
Toyoda also announced Lexus was updating the Chinese pinyin of its name. ”We believe the use of Chinese pinyin will help the market to associate with ‘Lexus’ more easily.”
Lexus vowed to value the customer as an important individual and to do things right from the start. The pursuit for perfection becomes the brand’s core value in whatever it does―from cars that are designed with the driver in mind to dealers that make customer satisfaction their most important goal. “After all, we’re here because of our customers,” added Toyoda.
Lexus models will be on display at this year’s Auto China 2004 held at the China International Exhibition Center. Apart from displaying its flagship LS430 and the RX300, consumers will also get a special preview of Lexus’ latest design concept: the LFS.
• About Lexus
Lexus has become synonymous with “Luxury” since its introduction in North America in 1989. By offering the finest quality luxury vehicles, Lexus has become the top-selling brand of luxury car in the U.S. Lexus has consistently achieved the highest honors for both its products and its service as rated by the independent automotive research firm, J.D. Power and Associates®. Building on its success in North America, Lexus has since expanded to 49 countries around the world, in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania. There are also plans to introduce Lexus in Japan in 2005.
By the end of this year, TMC will establish six exclusive Lexus dealerships in four cities in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. TMC will invest heavily in these dealerships including construction, ensuring customer-oriented designs, as well as training of Lexus Associates. The Lexus dealer network in China is expected to increase to 14 by mid-2005.
With the launch of the exclusive dealer network, Lexus owners in China will be able to enjoy a comprehensive Lexus package of products and exclusive services. It is this superb attention to customer care―called the “Lexus Touch”―that made Lexus the No. 1-selling luxury auto brand in the U.S., a title it has retained every year since 2000. “I know that China and the United States are very different markets. But that intense focus on people is a universal principle of business success. So I am confident that Lexus will thrive here in China,” said Jim Press, chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
At a press conference held in Beijing on the eve of the annual Auto China 2004, Toyoda, together with Press, officiated a ceremony whereby a Lexus seal was imprinted on a framed scroll with the Chinese characters for the “Relentless Pursuit of Perfection”, symbolizing Lexus’s commitment to China. TMC is currently in the process of doing focus group studies to better understand luxury car buyers in China. “It’s very important that we listen closely to what our customers in China have to say. We are ready and willing to listen,” said Toyoda. He also expressed deep appreciation and gratitude to existing Lexus customers in China for their support over the years.
Toyoda also announced Lexus was updating the Chinese pinyin of its name. ”We believe the use of Chinese pinyin will help the market to associate with ‘Lexus’ more easily.”
Lexus vowed to value the customer as an important individual and to do things right from the start. The pursuit for perfection becomes the brand’s core value in whatever it does―from cars that are designed with the driver in mind to dealers that make customer satisfaction their most important goal. “After all, we’re here because of our customers,” added Toyoda.
Lexus models will be on display at this year’s Auto China 2004 held at the China International Exhibition Center. Apart from displaying its flagship LS430 and the RX300, consumers will also get a special preview of Lexus’ latest design concept: the LFS.
• About Lexus
Lexus has become synonymous with “Luxury” since its introduction in North America in 1989. By offering the finest quality luxury vehicles, Lexus has become the top-selling brand of luxury car in the U.S. Lexus has consistently achieved the highest honors for both its products and its service as rated by the independent automotive research firm, J.D. Power and Associates®. Building on its success in North America, Lexus has since expanded to 49 countries around the world, in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania. There are also plans to introduce Lexus in Japan in 2005.
