As the title says, starting in Feb 05, Sirius will come as an option on cars, starting with LS430, ES330 and LX470. Also going to use the SIGMA setup. I assume this will be able to be work with any 01+ car with the ML system? Curious to find out. I know there are aftermarket modules that allow sat radio to be hooked in, but if the dealer is going to offer something, it should work flawlessly IMO. Anyway, curious to see what unfolds in the coming months. Here's the link for everyone:

http://money.cnn.com/services/ticker...0956.09230.htm

 

Press Release Source: SIRIUS


Sirius Announces Post Production and Dealer Installed Options in Toyota, Lexus and Scion Vehicles Beginning February 2005
Tuesday December 7, 12:10 am ET
Toyota to Offer SIRIUS Satellite Radio in Nine Models


NEW YORK, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SIRIUS Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI - News) today announced that Toyota will offer SIRIUS, as both a post production and dealer installed option, in nine models beginning in February 2005.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991118/NYTH125 )
The Toyota models include: Camry, Solara (including Solara Convertible), Land Cruiser, Lexus LS 430, Lexus ES 330, Lexus LX 470, Scion xA, Scion xB and Scion tC. Toyota now joins the ranks of other automotive partners offering SIRIUS, including Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jeep®, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Porsche and Volkswagen, all offering SIRIUS.

"We are very excited that Toyota will be offering SIRIUS as both a post production and dealer installed option in their quality vehicle lineup," said Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS. "It goes without saying that Toyota is one of the most successful premier auto manufacturers in the world, offering vehicles of exceptional reliability and performance. We believe that SIRIUS, and its premium programming, will complement Toyota's well-earned reputation, and will add to its ability to offer customers even more of an enhanced driving experience."

Roger Penske, Chairman and Chief Executive of United Auto Group, the second largest publicly-traded automotive retailer in the U.S., said: "This is terrific news for our many Toyota customers. At our Toyota and Lexus dealerships throughout the country, we are focused on giving customers the very best in service and premium content as a part of our partnership with SIRIUS Satellite Radio."

Greg Penske, President of Penske Automotive Group, owner of the largest Toyota dealership in the United States, said "Toyota's announcement today is great news for both SIRIUS and Toyota customers. Penske Automotive Group and SIRIUS are 100% committed to making SIRIUS the satellite radio provider of choice for Toyota customers throughout the country."

The Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) will be $299, not including installation labor costs for dealer installed vehicles. Toyota, Lexus and Scion will also use the all-new SIRIUS Interior Glass Mounted Antenna (SIGMA) on nearly all vehicles, which will provide the most integrated antenna installation solution available in the industry to date.

About SIRIUS

SIRIUS delivers more than 120 channels of the best commercial-free music, compelling talk shows, news and information, and the most exciting sports programming to listeners across the country in digital quality sound. SIRIUS offers 65 channels of 100% commercial-free music, and features over 55 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95. SIRIUS also broadcasts live play-by- play games of the NFL and NBA, and is the Official Satellite Radio partner of the NFL.

SIRIUS radios for the car, truck, home, RV and boat are manufactured by Alpine, Audiovox, Blaupunkt, Clarion, Delphi, Jensen, JVC, Kenwood, Sanyo and XACT Communications. Available in more than 25,000 retail locations, SIRIUS radios can be purchased at major retailers including Best Buy, Circuit City, Office Depot, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart and RadioShack. SIRIUS is also available at heavy truck dealers and truck stops nationwide.

SIRIUS radios are currently offered in vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jeep®, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Porsche and Volkswagen. Hertz currently offers SIRIUS at 53 major locations around the country. In addition, the Penske companies -- Penske Auto Group and United Auto Group -- are offering SIRIUS radios as a factory installed option, where available, in their cars and trucks through their dealerships.

Click on http://www.sirius.com to listen to SIRIUS live, or to find a SIRIUS retailer or car dealer in your area.

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion in the United States, marketing products and services through a network of 1,417 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers in 49 states. Established in 1957, TMS and its subsidiaries also are involved in distribution logistics, motorsports, R&D and general aviation. The company's main Web site is http://www.toyota.com.

Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance with respect to SIRIUS Satellite Radio Inc. are not historical facts and may be forward-looking and, accordingly, such statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Among the key factors that have a direct bearing on our results of operations are: our dependence upon third parties to manufacture, distribute, market and sell SIRIUS radios and components for those radios; the unproven market for our service; our competitive position and any events which affect the useful life of our satellites.

 

Cadillac, I believe has been offering both Sirius and XM for years....I don't know why Cadillac is not on the list of present vehicles. Also.....why it took this long for Toyota / Lexus to catch up is unclear.

 

Its about damn time. THe only Toytoa product that had SAT was the thew new Solara.