Quick Facts: Lexus
| Owner | Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203 / NYSE: TM) |
| Toyota Executive Chairman | Akio Toyoda |
| Toyota President & CEO | Koji Sato |
| Ownership Type | Public subsidiary |
| Founded | 1989 (first introduced in the US market) |
| Headquarters | Toyota City, Aichi, Japan (Toyota); Lexus global HQ same |
| Key Models | ES, RX, NX, GX, LX, IS, LC |
| Publicly Traded | Yes (via Toyota Motor Corp, TYO: 7203 / NYSE: TM) |
Who Owns Lexus?
Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203 / NYSE: TM), one of the world’s largest automakers. Lexus is not a separate company — it is a brand developed and wholly owned by Toyota, operating as Toyota’s premium luxury line. Toyota launched Lexus in the United States in 1989 as part of an ambitious push to compete with European luxury marques like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Today, Lexus sells vehicles in approximately 90 countries. Akio Toyoda — grandson of Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda — serves as Toyota’s Executive Chairman. Koji Sato serves as Toyota’s President and CEO. Toyota Motor Corporation is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.
About Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation is a Toyota City, Japan-based global automotive giant and one of the world’s top-selling vehicle manufacturers. The company was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda as a spin-off from his father Sakichi Toyoda’s textile machinery company. Toyota’s ownership structure involves significant cross-holdings among affiliated companies: Toyota Industries Corporation is a major shareholder, and the Toyoda family maintains cultural and governance influence. Toyota went public in Japan in 1949. Akio Toyoda, who served as President and CEO for over a decade, transitioned to Executive Chairman in April 2023 when Koji Sato was appointed the new President and CEO. Lexus was developed under Akio Toyoda’s personal championship as a passion project, and he has been deeply involved in the brand’s identity and performance direction.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Lexus is wholly owned by Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203 / NYSE: TM). It is not a separate legal entity or traded independently.
- Akio Toyoda (grandson of Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda) serves as Executive Chairman of Toyota and has been a personal champion of the Lexus brand’s performance direction.
- Koji Sato is President and CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation (since April 2023), overseeing Lexus as part of the Toyota portfolio.
- Lexus launched in the US in 1989 and expanded globally, now selling vehicles in approximately 90 countries worldwide.
- Investors seeking exposure to Lexus can purchase Toyota Motor Corporation shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TYO: 7203) or the NYSE (ADR symbol: TM).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Lexus?
Lexus is owned by Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203 / NYSE: TM). It is Toyota’s luxury vehicle brand and operates as a wholly owned division of Toyota, not a separate company.
Is Lexus a Toyota?
Yes. Lexus is the luxury brand of Toyota Motor Corporation. Many Lexus vehicles share platforms and components with Toyota vehicles, built to a higher standard of refinement and performance under the Lexus badge.
Is Lexus publicly traded?
Lexus is not separately traded. Its parent company, Toyota Motor Corporation, is publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TYO: 7203) and the NYSE as an ADR (ticker: TM).
When was Lexus founded?
Lexus was introduced in the United States market in August 1989 with the launch of the LS 400 sedan, which immediately drew comparison to European luxury benchmarks and received widespread critical acclaim.
