Toyota to sell Lexus on mainland

Toyota announced that it plans to begin sales of its Lexus luxury car line in China by the end of 2004. The Japan-based automaker initially plans to open six dealerships in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen and will add another eight locations by mid-2005. Toyota will sell four Lexus models, the LS, GS, RX and IS. The brand first entered the US market in 1989 competing with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.