Just days after launching the Lexus LC 500, Akio Toyoda resigns from the Tokyo Olympic committee

How does this affect Lexus? 

Just days after launching the hauntingly beautiful Lexus LC 500, Akio Toyoda, President of the Toyota Motor Corporation and Chief Branding Officer of Lexus International, is again making the headlines.

This time, for a different reason...

According to Associated Press reports, Akio Toyoda has stepped down as Vice President of the organising committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He is expected to be replaced by Kazuhiro Tsuga, the President of Panasonic. 

A Tokyo Olympic official told reporters Toyoda-san may have been concerned about a possible conflict of interest arising out of the fact he is also a current member of the Keidanren committee on the Olympics (Keidanren being Japan's biggest business lobby). As a result, he has decided to reorganise his roles to intensify efforts to encourage business support for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 



Why is this important to Lexus? How does Toyoda-san's resignation from the organising committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics affect Lexus? A clue lies in something I wrote in December last year:

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You read it here first! All-new 2017 Lexus LS Part 2 - Next generation LS 500h replaces halo model LS 600h!

Flagship Lexus launching May 2017, aims to be official car for Tokyo Olympics 2020!

You're looking at the all-new 2017 Lexus LS. Japanese Magazine MAG-X has published these rather unflattering images of the next-generation Lexus LS test mule currently undergoing track tests in Japan. But make no mistake: Under this underwhelming shell lies advanced technology and plushness designed to push the limits of 'luxury on wheels' to new levels. More on the looks later. For now...

I see the Lexus LC 500 in the picture above. What does the new 2017 Lexus LS have to do with it?

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You read it here first! All-new 2017 Lexus LS Part 1 - Details emerge why Lexus' flagship is taking so long

Collapse of the Lehman Brothers in 2008 and Japan Earthquake of 2011 crucial factors

Lexus, Lexus, what's taking you so long with the new LS? 

The current generation LS has been with us since 2006 in LS 460, LS 460L, LS 600h and LS 600h L versions. In 2012, Lexus gave its headliner model a substantial update; the extent of which was rather unusual. Whilst other manufacturers are content merely to update their cars on a superficial level, Lexus gave the LS a completely new front cabin in addition to new headlights, engine diagnostics and infotainment software and front bumper to incorporate the signature spindle grille. 

All Lexus has just found the reason why Lexus gave the LS an unusually-thorough makeover in 2012: It was not just to fend off the launch of the all-new 2013 Mercedes S Class. There were two more important factors: 

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