Lexus Mid-Year 2017 Global Sales Report

That Reuters article builds upon the official Mid-year Lexus International 2017 Sales Report news release from the Toyota Global Newsroom:
http://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/detail/18288750/

Combining the information from both articles, here is a summary of the trends and numbers in Lexus sales at 2017's midpoint (with some predictions and commentary thrown in for good measure):

- Lexus reported January-June 2017 worldwide vehicle sales of 305,169 units. This represents a 4.4% decline from the 319,275 units sold worldwide during the same period in 2016.

- Those 305,169 total units sold in 2017 comprise 186,523 SUVs/crossovers and 118,638 passenger cars. (Note that the sum of those two numbers falls 8 units short of the total. I have no clue why). In percentage terms, that makes for 61.1% SUVs/crossovers and 38.9% cars.

- U.S. sales, while still comprising nearly half of all global Lexus sales, fell 10%. Japan saw a 23% decline. Conversely, China Lexus sales saw a 30% increase.

- The worldwide Lexus sales leader thus far for 2017 is the RX (90,312 units sold) followed by NX (66,946 units sold)

- Full-year global 2017 Lexus sales are predicted to decline by about 4% to around 650,000 units. Reuters suggests that the mild improvement in the 2nd half of 2017 is due to LC and revamped LS, but, frankly, I don't see them making that big a contribution. In fact, it's an open question if 5LS will go on sale during calendar year 2017 in most markets.

The next Lexus ES is actually the brand's best hope of sparking some life into the sedan lineup. If it will replace the GS as the bread-and-butter sedan and fill both the soft luxury and still be sporty enough, then it will have a chance to do that. They look to be doing that with the introduction of the ES F-sport, which is the right move. The proportions/stance/design looks very promising from the spy shots.

The new LS will bring some life back into the high-end flagship end of the sedan line-up. I don't think it will be the runaway hit that Lexus would like it to be -- for one, I don't think it will take the sales crown back from the S-class. I would like to be proven wrong though, as the LS seems like a car that will have more presence in person, which means that it could be a word-of-mouth success. The lack of V8 will lose some sales, though not as much as internet keyboard warriors suggests.

Another key is the IS -- it's due for a new generation soon. This is another one Lexus needs to hit a homerun with. I have a feeling this will be Lexus' best IS since the original. The 3IS MMC update was a step in the right direction and fixed a lot of the design problems with the original 3IS. I will maintain that the rear "sickle" tailights is a design failure in my eyes, but the overall shape of the IS is nice enough. My expectation is that the 4IS will be larger to fill some of the gap left by the GS.

Speaking of the GS, the new rumors that it is being reworked to be more sporty/more expensive liftback sedan to compete with the CLS/A7 is really interesting. I am personally hoping it's true. It's a good move looking at the big picture: it gives the GS a much clearer identity within the lineup. This rework would take the GS out of the ES' shadow (sales and dealership-push wise). It's less likely to rot as another (RWD) midsize sedan ignored by dealerships/buyers because of the ES and because it will not be cross-shopped as much.

mordecai

The next Lexus ES is actually the brand's best hope of sparking some life into the sedan lineup. If it will replace the GS as the bread-and-butter sedan and fill both the soft luxury and still be sporty enough, then it will have a chance to do that. They look to be doing that with the introduction of the ES F-sport, which is the right move. The proportions/stance/design looks very promising from the spy shots.

The new LS will bring some life back into the high-end flagship end of the sedan line-up. I don't think it will be the runaway hit that Lexus would like it to be -- for one, I don't think it will take the sales crown back from the S-class. I would like to be proven wrong though, as the LS seems like a car that will have more presence in person, which means that it could be a word-of-mouth success. The lack of V8 will lose some sales, though not as much as internet keyboard warriors suggests.

Another key is the IS -- it's due for a new generation soon. This is another one Lexus needs to hit a homerun with. I have a feeling this will be Lexus' best IS since the original. The 3IS MMC update was a step in the right direction and fixed a lot of the design problems with the original 3IS. I will maintain that the rear "sickle" tailights is a design failure in my eyes, but the overall shape of the IS is nice enough. My expectation is that the 4IS will be larger to fill some of the gap left by the GS.

Speaking of the GS, the new rumors that it is being reworked to be more sporty/more expensive liftback sedan to compete with the CLS/A7 is really interesting. I am personally hoping it's true. It's a good move looking at the big picture: it gives the GS a much clearer identity within the lineup. This rework would take the GS out of the ES' shadow (sales and dealership-push wise). It's less likely to rot as another (RWD) midsize sedan ignored by dealerships/buyers because of the ES and because it will not be cross-shopped as much.

If It goes after the CLS/A7 am ok with that as long as they keep the price in line with what we expect from a GS.

krew

A minor sales dip in the first six months of the year.

View the original article post

The swift change from sedan to SUV/CUV is astounding...the NX was right on time or people would have jumped ship..

Sedans have to evolve, more variants, hatches, etc.. Lexus does have the styling down where they are distinctive...

Dang, I knew the NX would surpass the ES eventually, but I didn't think it would be so soon! I bet the 2018 NX refresh will help even more :cool:

mikeavelli

Sedans have to evolve, more variants, hatches, etc.. Lexus does have the styling down where they are distinctive...

This. I hope the rumor of the GS becoming a A7/CLS-esqe design come true. And while it was a massive seller, I'm disappointed that the CT is being discontinued in the US. I really like the refresh :confused:

With NX being such a massive success it's obvious Lexus needs to get the UX done ASAP.

I have been thinking that Lexus should bring back the "SportCross" and maybe apply it to a few different models. A formula similar to Audi's Allroad would probably be super successful... but could also eat into CUV sales, so I'm not sure.

5-7" of ground clearance
Larger fender flares
Larger tires
Chunky wagon/fastback shape

It could work for IS and next ES...

@Gecko

they even said that they will return back the Sport Cross but as stand-alone model
So I am guessing it may be named SC but this time for Sport Cross not for Sport Coupe, it's just a guessing as the GS will be the 4 doors coupe, the GX may turn to be unibody RWD , this will make amazing future combo

Well the dealer meeting is happening now and they sound pretty excited with the new products coming including a surprise......

maiaramdan

@Gecko

they even said that they will return back the Sport Cross but as stand-alone model
So I am guessing it may be named SC but this time for Sport Cross not for Sport Coupe, it's just a guessing as the GS will be the 4 doors coupe, the GX may turn to be unibody RWD , this will make amazing future combo

Where is this info? I haven't seen it.

In the same linki shared in the future GS discussion

mikeavelli

Well the dealer meeting is happening now and they sound pretty excited with the new products coming including a surprise......

Thanks for confirming the next LFA. I will start saving now...

:P

mikeavelli

Well the dealer meeting is happening now and they sound pretty excited with the new products coming including a surprise......

Any hints on the surprise coming from Lexus? I need to be inspired with experience amazing...

mordecai

Thanks for confirming the next LFA. I will start saving now...

:p

Trexus

Any hints on the surprise coming from Lexus? I need to be inspired with experience amazing...

I wish I could say more guys. It won't be a LFA successor though.

mikeavelli

I wish I could say more guys. It won't be a LFA successor though.

lol would it be something worth being surprised about... something in the line of a new Gs500 with just 400Hp/TQ

is the surprise related with the new or facelift prado the GX will be unibodied RWD SUV?