Lexus USA Raises Sales Projections for 2013

Posted by Kevin on July 29th, 2013

Lexus has raised its U.S. 2013 sales expectations to between 260,000-270,000 units, due to strong demand for the new IS, ES, & LS — from Automotive News:

The new plan is a step up from Lexus’ April outlook of 260,000 units for 2013. Its upper range would mark an 11 percent increase over 244,166 vehicles sold in the United States last year.

Its U.S. sales climbed 10 percent to 118,415 units in the first six months of the year, putting Lexus on an annualized pace for 237,000 units. Market share was flat at 1.5 percent, and the luxury marque still trailed rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Lexus aims to sell 32,000 units of the IS in the United States this year — with 22,500 coming from the new 2014 model year. Last year, the long-in-the-tooth IS sold 27,708 units.

Plans for the new IS seem ambitious right now, but we have yet to see a full month of sales information — the picture will become much clearer when July’s sales data is released this week.

Also in the Automotive News article, Lexus International Executive Vice President Mark Templin restated that the IS 300h will not be coming to North America:

Lexus expects the gasoline-electric version of the IS to account for 55 percent of the nameplate’s sales in Japan. But that drivetrain option won’t be headed stateside.

Templin said the entry-level hybrid sedan segment is covered adequately already in the United States by hybrid versions of the ES and GS sedans. The slow-selling hybrid-only HS sedan was discontinued in the United States but is still sold in Japan.

Read the full story at Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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Comments
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    Travis
  • July 29, 2013
The ass rear end of that IS in the pic looks so damn good !
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    Greggy23
  • July 29, 2013
Still does not make sense to not offer the 300h in the States. Every model should have a hybrid variant available.
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    Brendan
  • July 29, 2013
The IS 300h should be offered here. I find it difficult to understand why you wouldn't offer the car here - it's not like it isn't already being built for other markets. It sure wouldn't hurt your sales figures to offer an additional car - especially one already manufactured (NO/ very little additional development). "Templin said the entry-level hybrid sedan segment is covered adequately already in the United States by hybrid versions of the ES and GS sedans. The slow-selling hybrid-only HS sedan was discontinued in the United States but is still sold in Japan." The ES is for a different clientele than the IS. An ES buyer is looking for fuel economy, interior volume and comfort. The GS buyer may be looking for sportiness - but the GS is basically $60k. An IS hybrid would fill the gap otherwise left (mid-size, sporty). The CT is much to small to compare to the IS. And of course the HS was discontinued! It was HIDEOUS. No one bought that car because it was ugly, not because it was the wrong size or otherwise.
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      F1orce
    • July 30, 2013
    The ES300h accounts for only about 10% of total ES sales. The IS would achieve even less. The IS250, IS350 & ISF cover the needs very well.
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      Brendan
    • July 31, 2013
    I believe the last sales figures I was quoted was the ES 300h was around 20-25% of total ES sales. Which is substantial. Working at a dealer myself, it is one of our best sellers - and spends the least amount of time on the lot before being sold. We can hardly keep them in stock. It's not so much about sales percentage in the IS 300h's case though - the way I see it, they have nothing to lose by bringing a car that is already developed to market here. In fact, they have more sales to gain.
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      RAL
    • July 30, 2013
    I agree with Brendan. There is a niche for a combination of mid-size style, sportiness, and fuel economy without having to spend $60k+. Lexus obviously thought there was a segment for the HS in the US. It failed because it was bland on every level, not because there were too many hybrids in the $30-40k segment. The IS 300h has it all except V6 power. Power must not be a major factor since Lexus expects to sell more 250's than anything else. The IS 300h offers a broader balance of appeal than all of the other hybrids. Come on Lexus!
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      Ygvg
    • July 31, 2013
    The IS250 is smooth as butter. It's quite powerful compared to every other entry base cars from other brands.
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    F1orce
  • July 30, 2013
It's nice to see Lexus becoming less reliant on the RX.
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    MT
  • July 30, 2013
If only 10% of the ISes sold in NA would be hybrids, there would be more ISh sold in NA than in Europe. Our car critics gave it disappointing reviews, and i must admit, that by omitting the reducction gearset of the GSh and LSh Lexus has gone too far in cost cutting. This results in poor sprint times and a very low maximum speed. And believe it or not, people here get influenced by the stupid "numbers game" very easily.
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    Jolly
  • August 1, 2013
http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=862204 slap on the face for Mr.Templin

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