The 2008 LS 600h L hybrid luxury sedan will, according to Toyota, elevates the LS to a new level.

“The LS 600h L will stand as the flagship for the Lexus brand by providing the highest level of technical advancements, ride comfort, safety and luxury of any vehicle in our lineup,” said Jim Farley, Lexus group vice president and general manager.

The LS 600 h will have the world’s first full V8, all-wheel-drive (AWD) hybrid drivetrain. The system combines a new 5.0-liter V8 gasoline engine with two powerful electric motors and a newly designed, ligher, large-capacity battery pack. Together, they have a combined output of 438 horsepower and acceleration from zero to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds. Mid-range acceleration is even more impressive. The system’s electric motor is capable of delivering maximum torque, on demand, and is most beneficial during passing maneuvers. Finally, exhilarating torque is in abundance at higher speeds as the LS 600h L rapidly accelerates from 50-70 mph in a rapid 3.5 seconds.

For more details, see our new LS600h page.

Toyota was the world’s largest automaker in the first three months of 2007, in terms of volume, finally passing General Motors with sales of 2.35 million vehicles compared to GM’s 2.26 million. In the United States, Toyota sales rose 13% in 2006, bringing its market share to 16% (behind GM at 22% and Ford at 17%). GM, however, has been investing heavily in the rising Chinese market, and reaped 32% sales gains in China; they are also building in India, as is Toyota.

Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) and Toyota held a ceremony today to commemorate production of the plant’s first Toyota Camry. A $230 million investment gives SIA the capacity to produce 100,000 Camrys per year. Camry production will add 1,000 associates for a total of more than 3,200 at SIA.

Attending the ceremony were FHI president Ikuo Mori and Toyota Motor Corporation president Katsuaki Watanabe.

“Fuji and Toyota faced many challenges for Camry production, including a short amount of preparation time, and we are grateful for the hard work of our associates and team members,” said Watanabe. “We look forward to growing a long-term relationship with Fuji, SIA and the local community.”

To thank the local community for its support, SIA and Toyota yesterday announced a $60,000 donation to the Columbian Park Zoo for its owl exhibit.

In addition to the Camry, SIA builds the Subaru Tribeca, Outback and Legacy. SIA produced about 120,000 Subarus in 2006.

Toyota currently produces the Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Matrix, Sienna, Solara, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra and the Lexus RX 350 in North America.

Toyota broke ground on the future site of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS), its eighth vehicle manufacturing plant in North America. Production at the $1.3 billion plant is scheduled to begin by 2010 with 2,000 team members that will produce the Toyota Highlander SUV; annual vehicle capacity will be 150,000 units. Once production begins at TMMMS, Toyota will have the capacity to produce approximately 2.2 million cars and trucks annually in North America.

Attending the ceremony were Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Toyota Motor Corporation president Katsuaki Watanabe.

With an extensive list of standard luxury equipment and technological features, the LS 600h L will carry a base price of $104,000 when it reaches Lexus dealers in June, putting it into supercar territory.

The full-time all-wheel-drive LS 600h L will be the world’s first vehicle powered by a full hybrid V8 powertrain. It will be mated to a dual-stage continuously variable transmission. It will deliver power and performance on a par with modern 12-cylinder engines, producing more than 430 horsepower – with gas mileage as good as V6 all-wheel-drive mid-sized luxury sedans. The LS 600h L will also carry a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) rating, emitting nearly 70 percent fewer emissions than the “cleanest” of its competitors. Unfortunately, it also carries what may be the most awkward name of any currently produced vehicle.

Boosted by record hybrid sales, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported all-time best-ever monthly sales (within the United States) of 242,675 vehicles, an increase of 7.7 percent over March 2006.

“This month marks a milestone eight years in the making,” said Jim Lentz, TMS executive vice president. “Record U.S. sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrids have now topped the half-million mark.” The Toyota Division posted best-ever March sales of 213,820, up 8.7 percent. The Lexus Division reported best-ever March sales of 28,855 units.

Toyota Division passenger cars recorded best-ever March sales of 121,881, up 13.6 percent over the same period last year. Passenger car sales were led by Camry, which posted March sales of 42,254, up 4.5 percent over the same period last year. Camry Hybrid reported sales of 5,144 units in March. The Prius hybrid gas-electric mid-size sedan posted all-time best-ever monthly sales for the second consecutive month with 19,156 units sold, an increase of 133.2 percent. Corolla reported best-ever March sales of 34,355, an increase of 2.5 percent.

Toyota Division light truck sales were up 2.9 percent, a best-ever month of 91,939 units. Light truck sales were led by the RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV), which reported best-ever sales of 17,837, up 27.5 percent over the year-ago month. The Tundra full-size pickup reported sales of 13,196 units, up 7.8 percent over Tundra sales last March.

Lexus passenger cars reported best-ever March sales of 18,128 units, an increase of 26.7 percent over March 2006. Passenger car sales were led by the ES 350 luxury sedan with best-ever March sales of 7,444 units, up 69.7 percent. The LS 460 reported sales of 3,134, an increase of 125.4 percent.

Lexus light trucks reported March sales totaling 10,727 units with the RX 350 and RX 400h reporting combined March sales of 8,603 units.

Toyota US calendar-year-to-date hybrid sales totaled 61,635 units, an increase of 68 percent over the same period last year, while cumulative hybrid sales to-date surpassed the 500,000 sales mark. In March, TMS posted sales of 28,453 hybrid vehicles, up 105 percent. Toyota Division posted sales of 26,801 hybrids, up 137 percent over the same period last year, while the Lexus Division posted sales of 1,652 hybrids.

There were also a number of shortfalls, with the Avalon falling 17%; the Scion xA and xB dropping a stunning 36% and 47%, respectively, and customers wait for the new models; and the tC nearly holding its own at a 4.4% loss. Within Lexus, the SC and GS both dropped, the SC by 33% and the GS by 17% in 300 trim and by 32% in 430/450h trim.

In the truck world, while the FJ Cruiser sales more than doubled, the Sequoia dropped by 28%, the 4Runner by 19%, and the Sienna by 23% – but in actual numbers, the FJ compensated for most of the losses of other Toyota branded trucks. The LX, GX, and RX also dropped considerably, for a total Lexus light-truck loss of 25%, or about 3,000 units.

Camry and Corolla each continue to sell better as individual models than many companies sell as complete lineups. Camry sales were off 5%, or about 600 cars; but at 32,420 sold, the Camry did quite well. 29,965 Corollas, a gain of 2.3%, were greater in volume than any Chrysler Group vehicle aside from the Ram pickup… indeed, the Corolla and Camry combined outsold every Chrysler brand vehicle combined (eight of them) or every Jeep combined (six of them).

There were 28 selling days this month, as compared to 27 selling days last March.

TOYOTA  RETAIL  SALES
(INCLUDES FLEET & HAWAII)
February, 2007

              ----- CURRENT MONTH ----        -- CALENDAR YEAR TO DATE --
                                            DSR %                   DSR %
                             2007     2006    CHG     2007    2006    CHG

YARIS                     7,614    1,339    448.3  19,186   1,339  1295.6
COROLLA                  34,355   32,312      2.5  88,195  82,287     4.4
CAMRY                    42,254   38,981      4.5 105,863  93,775    10.0
AVALON                    7,523    8,697    -16.6  19,635  22,543   -15.2
PRIUS                    19,156    7,922    133.2  39,682  22,123    74.7
SCION xA                  1,865    2,820    -36.2   5,345   7,163   -27.3
SCION xB                  2,799    5,060    -46.7   8,500  12,970   -36.2
SCION tC                  6,314    6,368     -4.4  15,093  16,223    -9.4
TOTAL TOYOTA DIV.
 PASS. CAR              121,881  103,501     13.6 301,501 258,443    13.6
ES 350                    7,444    4,231     69.7  18,050  10,787    63.0
LS 460                    3,134    1,341    125.4   8,563   3,546   135.2
SC 430                      370      533    -33.1     954   1,384   -32.9
GS 300                    1,908    2,205    -16.6   4,664   5,675   -19.9
GS 430/450h                 195      278    -32.4     553     835   -35.5
IS 250/350                5,077    5,210     -6.0  12,409  13,165    -8.2
TOTAL LEXUS PASS. CAR    18,128   13,798     26.7  45,193  35,392    24.4
TOTAL TOYOTA PASS. CAR  140,009  117,299     15.1 346,694 293,835    14.9
SIENNA                   13,071   16,287    -22.6  34,959  40,390   -15.7
RAV4                     17,837   13,494     27.5  41,405  33,944    18.8
FJ CRUISER                6,057    2,784    109.8  16,045   2,784   461.4
4RUNNER                   9,052   10,800    -19.2  23,937  27,925   -16.5
HIGHLANDER               11,693   11,622     -3.0  31,383  29,403     4.0
LAND CRUISER                222      298    -28.2     682     885   -24.9
SEQUOIA                   2,568    3,446    -28.1   6,938   9,068   -25.5
TOTAL SUV                47,429   42,444      7.8 120,390 104,009    12.7
4X2 TACOMA               10,851    9,185     13.9  27,027  24,699     6.6
4X4 TACOMA                7,392    6,477     10.1  19,301  17,108     9.9
TOTAL TACOMA             18,243   15,662     12.3  46,328  41,807     7.9
TUNDRA                   13,196   11,800      7.8  29,186  31,825   -10.7
TOTAL PICKUP             31,439   27,462     10.4  75,514  73,632    -0.1
TOTAL TOYOTA DIV.
 LT TRUCK                91,939   86,193      2.9 230,863 218,031     3.1
LX 470                      270      489    -46.8     826   1,485   -45.8
GX 470                    1,854    2,334    -23.4   5,239   6,093   -16.2
RX 350/400h               8,603   10,971    -24.4  22,233  25,407   -14.8
TOTAL LEXUS LIGHT TRUCK  10,727   13,794    -25.0  28,298  32,985   -16.4
TOTAL TOYOTA
 LIGHT TRUCK            102,666   99,987     -1.0 259,161 251,016     0.6
TOTAL TOYOTA DIV.       213,820  189,694      8.7 532,364 476,474     8.8
TOTAL LEXUS              28,855   27,592      0.8  73,491  68,377     4.7
TOTAL TOYOTA            242,675  217,286      7.7 605,855 544,851     8.3
MEMO:
DOM. COROLLA             29,965   28,257      2.3  78,276  74,050     3.0
DOM. CAMRY               32,420   33,042     -5.4  80,254  83,177    -6.0
DOM. PICKUP              31,439   27,462     10.4  75,514  73,632    -0.1
DOM. RX 350               6,608    6,889     -7.5  15,229  15,308    -3.1

SELLING DAYS                 28       27               77      75

TOYOTA DIV.
 IMPORT CAR              51,973   33,505     49.6 123,336  78,673    52.7
LEXUS IMPORT CAR         18,128   13,798     26.7  45,193  35,392    24.4
TOYOTA DIV NA
 BUILT CARS              69,908   69,996     -3.7 178,165 179,770    -3.5
TOTAL TOYOTA CARS       140,009  117,299     15.1 346,694 293,835    14.9

TOYOTA DIV. IMPORT
 LT TRUCK                44,861   38,998     10.9 113,452  94,941    16.4
LEXUS IMPORT LT TRUCK     4,119    6,905    -42.5  13,069  17,677   -28.0
TOYOTA DIV NA BUILT
 LT TRUCK                47,078   47,195     -3.8 117,411 123,090    -7.1
LEXUS NA BUILT LT TRUCK   6,608    6,889     -7.5  15,229  15,308    -3.1
TOTAL TOYOTA LT TRUCK   102,666   99,987     -1.0 259,161 251,016     0.6

SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES   52,099   53,454     -6.0 132,643 134,210    -3.7
   Memo: Lexus
    Sport Utility        10,727   13,794    -25.0  28,298  32,985   -16.4

SMALL VANS               13,071   16,287    -22.6  34,959  40,390   -15.7
PICKUPS                  31,439   27,462     10.4  75,514  73,632    -0.1

* NORTH AMERICAN BUILT VEHICLES
COROLLA                  29,965   28,257      2.3  78,276  74,050     3.0
CAMRY                    32,420   33,042     -5.4  80,254  83,177    -6.0
AVALON                    7,523    8,697    -16.6  19,635  22,543   -15.2
SIENNA                   13,071   16,287    -22.6  34,959  40,390   -15.7
PICKUP                   31,439   27,462     10.4  75,514  73,632    -0.1
SEQUOIA                   2,568    3,446    -28.1   6,938   9,068   -25.5
RX 350                    6,608    6,889     -7.5  15,229  15,308    -3.1
TOTAL                   123,594  124,080     -3.9 310,805 318,168    -4.9
N.A. VEHICLES % OF TOTAL     50.9%    57.1%            51.3%   58.4%

SELLING DAYS 28 27 77 75
DSR = DAILY SELLING RATE