Is Lexus a Toyota Brand? Exploring the Lexus-Toyota Connection
When shopping for a luxury vehicle, you'll come across many prestigious automotive brands. But Lexus stands out as a relative newcomer to the high-end market. Given its rapid rise, some buyers wonder: is Lexus part of Toyota or an independent luxury automaker? This article will examine the origins of the Lexus brand and its ongoing relationship with parent company Toyota Motor Corporation . We'll outline how Lexus enables Toyota to compete in the luxury space while retaining its own identity. Origins of the Lexus Brand To understand Lexus, we first need to look at its launch in the late 1980s: Toyota wanted to crack the U.S. luxury car market dominated by German makes like Mercedes and BMW. They developed an all-new rear-wheel drive luxury sedan with a buttery smooth V8 engine dubbed the LS 400. Lexus was launched in 1989 as a standalone luxury division of Toyota, debuting with the LS flagship. So Lexus originated as Toy...