MSN Helps Lexus Stake New Ground in Online Luxury Segment

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 4, 2004 — MSN and Lexus today announced the renewal of the co-branded Web site, Lexus.MSN.com, for another year. The agreement expands the brand and user experience online.

Embracing the growth of broadband and the online audience’s desire for richer content, Lexus.MSN.com will offer users a broader experience with streaming video segments and stories complementing its luxury lifestyle content. Additional editorial content includes a new Luxury Travel and Luxury Shopping area for users to explore and enjoy. Since last February, Lexus.MSN.com has helped the automaker increase brand awareness and perception among its target consumers.

“At Lexus, it is our core philosophy to pursue perfection — both in the design of our cars and in how we communicate with our audience,” said Mike Wells, vice president of marketing for Lexus. “It is natural for us to enhance Lexus.MSN.com to ensure that our audience receives the most relevant, interesting content possible.”

The site, which delivers upscale, professional and lifestyle content as well as information on Lexus vehicles, has proved hugely successful since its launch in February 2003, attracting 8 million unique visitors through December 2003, and has become one of the most frequented stops on the Web for affluent consumers.

“The success of Lexus.MSN.com is solid proof that online marketing on MSN, whether via traditional advertising or branded Web content, allows businesses to achieve real, measurable results with the millions of consumers they most want to reach,” said Joanne Bradford, vice president of MSN Sales at Microsoft Corp.

About Lexus

Lexus has become synonymous with luxury since its introduction in 1989. By offering some of the finest quality luxury vehicles and providing benchmark customer service, Lexus has become the top-selling luxury nameplate in the United States for four years in a row. Lexus and its 200 dealers have repeatedly achieved high honors for both the products they sell and the customer service they provide as rated by the independent research firm of J.D. Power and Associates.

About MSN

MSN attracts more than 350 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 38 markets and 18 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and ad sales to businesses worldwide. The most useful and innovative online service today, MSN brings consumers everything they need from the Web to make the most of their time online. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/ . MSN®
worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

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