Lexus March 2010 Sales Report

USA

The March sales numbers for Lexus USA are in:

	MONTH			Year to Date (*DSR)
	2010	2009	% CHG*	2010	2009	% CHG*
ES	3,860	3,225	15.1	9,132	8,771	5.5
HS	1,494	0	N/A	3,453	0	N/A
LS	894	852	0.9	2,785	2,456	14.9
SC	30	78	-63.0	81	227	-63.8
GS	645	625	-0.8	1,662	2,118	-20.5
IS	3,137	2,432	24.0	7,331	6,979	6.5
Total Cars	10,060	7,212	34.1	24,444	20,551	20.6
LX	314	289	4.5	850	898	-4.1
GX	1,785	561	205.9	4,787	1,705	184.6
RX	8,060	6,177	25.5	19,442	18,915	4.2
Total Trucks	10,159	7,027	39.0	25,079	21,518	18.1
Total Sales	20,219	14,239	36.5	49,523	42,069	19.3

Lexus led all luxury brands for the month, posting a substantial 36.5% increase in overall sales by daily rate and a 42.0% increase by overall volume. On the car front, the ES and IS lines posted healthy gains, up 15.1% and 24.0% respectively. The refreshed LS line held steady, and the new GX and RX lines continued to show strong growth. Revised models and the improved economy are likely factors to the big sales increase, along with sweetened lease and financing deals.

Overall, it seems that Lexus sales are continuing their recovery from industry-wide difficulties in 2009, although the coming months will tell if Lexus can maintain its luxury market leadership for longer than a decade. Already BMW execs have claimed that they expect Lexus to maintain its lead this year, but that they hope to take the luxury sales crown in 2012 (after saying they would do so in 2009). Lexus spokeswoman Nancy Hubbell responded this month that being the top seller in the luxury segment “has never been our goal.” With the exchange rate affecting profitability, it’s quite likely that overall sales numbers are just part of the equation.

Canada

Lexus Canada had a slight drop in sales for March compared to last year, selling 4.4% less vehicles for a total of 1,303 units.

[Sources: Lexus Pressroom and PR Newswire]

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