Jim Lentz, President & CEO of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, to Open 2012 LA Auto Show with Motor Press Guild Keynote

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Jim Lentz, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, will kick off the Los Angeles Auto Show Press Days with the Motor Press Guild (MPG) keynote address on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012 at 8 a.m. The MPG presentation and Lentz's address are open to all credentialed media attending the show's Press Days Nov. 28 and 29, and will conclude with a Q-and-A session.

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As the global auto industry continues to face dramatic change and enormous challenges, Mr. Lentz will address how Toyota is facing a new automotive era and collaborating with other automakers and other industries to adapt to new conditions. Lentz also will discuss a global shift in Toyota's thinking as the company's North American operations gain expertise and the authority to develop new vehicles entirely in North America, starting with the new Avalon.

Lentz, who has been with Toyota for three decades, has the distinction of being the first American to serve in the position of CEO of Toyota Motor Sales, USA. He was named to the position earlier this year. The industry veteran also sits on the company's board of directors, is the senior vice president of Toyota Motor North America (TMA), the company's operations holding company, and serves as a managing officer for the parent company, Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in Japan.

"The many capacities in which Jim Lentz has served with Toyota makes him an ideal source to provide keen insights into the current dynamics of our industry. We look forward to hearing his perspective on how Toyota is navigating this rapidly changing marketplace," said Laura Burstein, President of the Motor Press Guild.

Under Lentz's leadership, Toyota Motor Sales, USA is currently enjoying a more than 40 percent growth in sales over last year while simultaneously maintaining a leading role in new technologies including fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid designs and connected car platforms such as Toyota's Entune.

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW
As the first major North American auto show of the season, the 2012 LA Auto Show will host some of the industry's most important new vehicle debuts and set the tone for the rest of the year. Press Days are Nov. 28 and 29 and open Nov. 30 –Dec. 9 for the public. Media registration is now open at http://www.laautoshow.com/PressDays To receive the latest show news and information visit www.laautoshow.com and follow LA Auto Show on Twitter@LAAutoShow . Join the Auto Show conversation on Facebook at Facebook.com/LosAngelesAutoShow and sign up for alerts at LAAutoShow.com.

ABOUT MPG
The Los Angeles-based Motor Press Guild (MPG) is the largest automotive media association in North America with approximately 800 members. This non-profit trade guild is dedicated to promoting professionalism in automotive journalism through education and information exchange. Members include journalists from print, broadcast, and online outlets as well as public relations representatives, consumer groups and governmental bodies tied to the automotive industry. The organization hosts regular meetings featuring key figureheads in the auto industry and is widely recognized for its annual Dean Batchelor Award program and annual industry MPG Track Day