The Toyota Crown is an automobile which has been produced by Toyota in Japan since 1955. It is currently a line of mid-size luxury sedans primarily aimed at the Japanese market and sold in other select Asian markets. It has served as the mainstream sedan from Toyota in the Japanese market throughout its existence and holds the distinction of being the longest-running passenger-car nameplate affixed to any Toyota model, along with being the first Toyota vehicle to be exported to the United States in 1958. Exports to Europe began in 1964.