Lexus cars are made by Toyota Motor Corporation , which owns Lexus as its global luxury vehicle division.

Who makes Lexus cars?

  • Lexus vehicles are engineered and manufactured by Toyota Motor Corporation, a major Japanese automaker founded in 1937.
  • Lexus was introduced in 1989 as Toyota’s dedicated luxury brand, designed to compete with premium marques like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.

Brand and ownership

  • Lexus is fully owned by Toyota but operates as a distinct luxury brand with its own design, engineering, and marketing teams.
  • The brand’s global headquarters and much of its development activity remain based in Japan under Toyota’s corporate umbrella.

Where Lexus cars are built

  • Many Lexus models are built in Japan at Toyota facilities known for high-precision manufacturing and quality control.
  • Some models are produced in North America, including plants in Ontario, Canada (RX and NX SUVs) and Kentucky, USA (ES sedan).

Forum and “trending topic” angle

  • In car forums and review sites, a common shorthand is that “a Lexus is basically a high-end Toyota,” referring to shared platforms and Toyota’s reliability backing the brand.
  • Discussions often highlight that while Lexus benefits from Toyota engineering, it emphasizes quieter cabins, more upscale materials, and more premium features than typical Toyota models.

Quick HTML fact table

Question Short answer
Who makes Lexus cars? Toyota Motor Corporation.
Who owns Lexus? Toyota (Lexus is Toyota’s luxury division).
Where are they built? Mainly Japan, plus plants in Canada and the USA.
**TL;DR:** Lexus is Toyota’s luxury brand, and all Lexus cars are made under Toyota Motor Corporation at selected plants in Japan, Canada, and the United States.