March 1998 - Lexus announces its participation as presenting sponsor of Eric Clapton's 1998 U.S. Tour. The sponsorship offered Lexus unique opportunities for innovative and effective marketing, as well as the opportunity to contemporize the Lexus brand and generate excitement both at the national and local dealer levels.

April 1998 - Bryan Bergsteinsson is named Lexus Division Group Vice President and General Manager.

April 1998 - Lexus sets a new division record in the month of April with sales of 12,364. Some of this increase can be attributed to the new hot-selling RX 300 mid-sized SUV.

May 1998 - For the second consecutive month, Lexus sets a division record with May Lexus sales of 14,620; an improvement of 100.0 percent over the same period last year.

July 1998 - Lexus again reports its best-ever month with July Lexus sales of 14,673; a 57.9 percent increase over July 1997. Year-to-date Lexus sales total 83,041; up 55.0 percent over the same period last year. Lexus is the best-selling luxury brand in the United States for the first time in its nine-year history, outselling Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Cadillac and Lincoln.

August 1998 - Lexus sets another all-time monthly Lexus sales record of 16,949, an improvement of 52.2 percent over the same period the previous year. Calendar -year-to-date Lexus sales in 1998 of 100,000 surpassed total 1997 Lexus sales of 97,593. This represents a 54.6 percent increase from the previous year.

December 1998 - Lexus posts best-ever annual Lexus sales of 156,260 units; representing a 60.0 percent increase over 1997 and a 90.0 percent increase over 1996.

February 1999 - Lexus and Coach partner to introduce a second ES 300 special edition.

March 1999 - For the first time ever, Lexus finished the first quarter of 1999 as the top-selling luxury nameplate outpacing Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lincoln and Cadillac.

March 1999 - Lexus enters the world of motorsports with the GS 400 luxury sport sedan in the Grand American Motorola Cup sports class. The Team Lexus GS 400 won at Road Atlanta in its sixth race and went on to claim two track records and four podium finishes in Lexus inaugural racing year.

May 1999 - Lexus sets an all-time new record with May Lexus sales of 18,110 units.

September 1999 - Lexus celebrates the 10th Anniversary of its first vehicle on sale in the United States.

October 1999 - Lexus is represented at the Tokyo Motor Show for the first time when the Lexus Sport Coupe concept car debuts.

November 1999 - In early November, Lexus surpassed its 1998 Lexus sales record of 156,260 units.

November 1999 - Lexus sold its one-millionth vehicle in the United States.

December 1999 - For the fourth consecutive year, Lexus posted best-ever annual Lexus sales. Calendar year 1999 Lexus sales of 185,890 units represented a 19.0 percent increase from 1998, and a 90.0 percent increase from 1997.

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