Toyota and Lexus Earn 11 Awards in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study

Lexus Has Top-Ranked Vehicle for Six Years in a Row

TORRANCE, Calif., June 7 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today earned a record 11 segment awards in the 2006 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study(SM). The study measures problems per 100 vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership. Toyota and Lexus vehicles garnered 11 segment awards, more than any other corporation and a record for the most segment awards in one study. For the ninth consecutive year, Lexus had the most problem-free vehicle overall in the study as the LS 430 luxury sedan tied for the top honor.

"It is a proud achievement for our vehicles to earn 11 awards overall in the 19 segments," said Jim Lentz, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager and incoming TMS executive vice president. "Our product line has expanded significantly over the years, with a number of new models coming to market recently. With that, we've continued to place a great importance on the quality and dependability of the product."

Lexus received awards in all six segments in which it had vehicles while finishing second overall with 93 problems per 100 (PP100). The Lexus LS 430, which tied the Porsche Cayman for top honor overall, was the Large Premium segment leader. It was the eighth time in 10 years that the LS earned that achievement. The GX 470 finished third overall in the study as the top SUV while earning the top spot in the Midsize Premium Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV) segment.

In addition, the all-new Lexus IS 250/350 was the highest ranked Entry Premium Car. The SC 430 was the top vehicle in the Premium Sporty segment, while the ES 330 earned that achievement in the Midsize Premium segment. The LX 470 luxury utility vehicle was the highest-ranked Large Premium MAV, and RX 330/400h was third in the Midsize Premium MAV segment behind the GX 470.

The Toyota nameplate finished fourth overall with 106 PP100. It also earned five segment awards overall, which was best among the non-luxury nameplates. Camry and Corolla, Toyota's largest volume vehicles, both were top in their respective segments. Camry was the No. 1 Midsize Car and the Corolla was first among the Compact Car segment. Other segment leaders include the Highlander/Highlander Hybrid in the Midsize MAV segment, the Solara in the Midsize Sporty segment, and the Sequoia was the top Large MAV.

Scion also showed well in the study with two vehicles in the top three of their respective segments. The Scion tC sports coupe was third in the Compact Sporty Car segment leader, while the xA was third in the Sub-Compact Car segment, only one point from the leader.

"Ninety-day quality is just the beginning of the complete ownership experience and one of many short and long-term measures of total quality, dependability and customer satisfaction," Lentz said.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Platinum Award for top manufacturing plant globally went to a facility producing Lexus vehicles as the Iwate plant, which built the ES 330, earned the top honors. Toyota manufacturing plants swept the top three Asia Pacific honors with the Silver Award going to the Higashi-Fuji plant where the SC 430 is built. The Kyushu plant, which builds the IS and two of the newest hybrids with the RX and Highlander, earned the Bronze Award. The Georgetown, Ky., plant, which assembles the Camry, Solara and Avalon, earned the Silver Award in North/South America.