What is the relationship between Lexus and Toyota?
2 Answers
Lexus and Toyota have the following relationship: Lexus is an automotive brand under Toyota. Taking the 2020 Lexus ES as an example, it belongs to the mid-to-large-sized car category with body dimensions of 4975mm in length, 1866mm in width, and 1447mm in height, a wheelbase of 2870mm, a fuel tank capacity of 49.3 liters, and a curb weight of 1720kg. The 2020 Lexus ES features a front MacPherson strut independent suspension and a rear multi-link independent suspension. It is equipped with a 2.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 178PS, a maximum power of 131kW, and a maximum torque of 221Nm, paired with an electronic continuously variable transmission.
I've been observing the development of car brands, and Lexus is actually a luxury sub-brand created by Toyota in 1989, specifically designed to compete with high-end rivals like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. At the time, Toyota saw its dominance in the mainstream market—models like the Corolla and Camry were selling exceptionally well—but to attract buyers seeking premium quality, it needed to launch a more refined brand. As a result, Lexus made a global splash right from the start. For example, the first LS sedan directly rivaled the Mercedes S-Class, powered by a Toyota-developed V8 engine, proving that Toyota could elevate its technology to luxury standards. Now, after all these years, Lexus continues to thrive in North America and Asia, and Toyota has also learned a lot about craftsmanship and design from it, making its own cars more reliable. In short, this duo is like a father-son relationship—the father is steady and solid, while the son pursues the high-end, but the bloodline remains unbroken, sharing resources to support the entire empire.
