November 2015 Lexus | Auto Sales

krew

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krew
15-12-01-lexus-rx-450h-november-sales-400x200.jpg


It was the best November sales result in the history of Lexus USA, and the second month in a row of record sales.
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mikeavelli

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Saved for Comparison Figures (will be updated constantly today)
YTD
BMW- 311,398
Mercedes-
Lexus- 303,221
Buick- 202,347
Audi- 181,803
Acura- 160,342
Cadillac- 154,480
Infiniti- 118,405
Lincoln- 90,67
Volvo- 60,706

Luxury & Entry Level Luxury Brands
Lexus- 29,340
Mercedes-
BMW- 32,003
Buick- 15,960
Audi- 16,700
Cadillac- 13,390
Acura- 12,224
Infiniti- 11,694
Lincoln- 7,918
Volvo- 6,903
Porsche-

Flagship
S-class-
7 series- 1,045
LS- 532
A8- 364
Panamera-
K900- 228
Equus-198

Mid-Size
E-class-
5 series- 4,646
GS- 2,174
A6- 1,582
CTS- 1,224
Q70- 677
MKS- 520
RLX/RL- 120
S80-

Entry Level Lux

3series- 8,433
C-class-
ES- 4,725
Q50- 3,782
Lacrosse- 3,351
IS- 3,063
A3- 3,028
TLX- 2,987
A4- 2,418
MKZ- 2,325
CLA-
ATS- 2,055
Regal- 1,172
CT- 984
S60-
1/2 series- 1,147
Q40- 38

Midsize Luxury Coupes
4series- 3,424
RC- 1,282
A5-1,277
Q60- 206

Small SUV
X3- 4,987
Q5- 4,520
RDX- 3,691
NX- 3,284
MKC- 1,805
XC60-
Macon-
QX50- 908
X4- 392

Midsize SUV
RX-10,771
SRX- 5,087
Enclave- 4,658
MDX- 4,092
X5- 3,965
M-class-
QX60- 3,736
GX- 2,011
MKX- 1,883
Q7- 1,279
Cayenne-
X6- 672
QX70- 610
MKT- 425
Touareg- 397
ZDX- 0

Flagship SUV
Escalade- 2,981
GL-
QX80- 1,737
Navigator- 960
G-wagon-
LX- 512

Other Coupes

Mustang- 7,286
Challenger-
Camaro- 5,303
Corvette- 1,952
CLS-
911/918-
Boxster/Cayman-
6series- 398
SL-
SLK-
TT- 176
i8- 118
Z4- 81
AMG GT-
ELR- 67
Viper-
Alpha4C-
R8- 10
 
Last edited:

Lexus Cohen

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Saved for Comparison Figures (will be updated constantly today)
YTD
BMW- 311,398
Mercedes-
Lexus- 303,221
Buick- 202,347
Audi- 181,803
Acura- 160,342
Cadillac- 154,480
Infiniti- 118,405
Lincoln- 90,67
Volvo- 60,706

Luxury & Entry Level Luxury Brands
Lexus- 29,340
Mercedes-
BMW- 32,003
Buick- 15,960
Audi- 16,700
Cadillac- 13,390
Acura- 12,224
Infiniti- 11,694
Lincoln- 7,918
Volvo- 6,903
Porsche-

Flagship
S-class-
7 series- 1,045
LS- 532
A8- 364
Panamera-
K900- 228
Equus-198

Mid-Size
E-class-
5 series- 4,646
GS- 2,174
A6- 1,582
CTS- 1,224
Q70- 677
MKS- 520
RLX/RL- 120
S80-

Entry Level Lux

3series- 8,433
C-class-
ES- 4,725
Q50- 3,782
Lacrosse- 3,351
IS- 3,063
A3- 3,028
TLX- 2,987
A4- 2,418
MKZ- 2,325
CLA-
ATS- 2,055
Regal- 1,172
CT- 984
S60-
1/2 series- 1,147
Q40- 38

Midsize Luxury Coupes
4series- 3,424
RC- 1,282
A5-1,277
Q60- 206

Small SUV
X3- 4,987
Q5- 4,520
RDX- 3,691
NX- 3,284
MKC- 1,805
XC60-
Macon-
QX50- 908
X4- 392

Midsize SUV
RX-10,771
SRX- 5,087
Enclave- 4,658
MDX- 4,092
X5- 3,965
M-class-
QX60- 3,736
GX- 2,011
MKX- 1,883
Q7- 1,279
Cayenne-
X6- 672
QX70- 610
MKT- 425
Touareg- 397
ZDX- 0

Flagship SUV
Escalade- 2,981
GL-
QX80- 1,737
Navigator- 960
G-wagon-
LX- 512

Other Coupes

Mustang- 7,286
Challenger-
Camaro- 5,303
Corvette- 1,952
CLS-
911/918-
Boxster/Cayman-
6series- 398
SL-
SLK-
TT- 176
i8- 118
Z4- 81
AMG GT-
ELR- 67
Viper-
Alpha4C-
R8- 10
MrLexfather, your time and effort is definitely appreciated.
 

Gecko

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I presume that Lexus will finish the year in third place, but it will be a close finish between the top three.

Why?

Lexus sedan sales are weak: IS sales have been trending downward despite the new IS 200t and IS 300. ES dipped - not sure if due to the model change over for the refreshed model, or something else. LS, as it is very old now, continues to decline. On the bright side, GS has been consistent this year, and up a bit in November.

What has kept Lexus consistent and helped to hit those sales records are the NX and RC. RC has reliably sold the 1,200 units a month that Lexus accounted for, and NX sales have been steadily increasing since release. GX was pretty flat YOY, and RX was up 1k units, most likely on the introduction of the new model and sell down of the 2015. LX up a mere 200 units, but that's solid for a 100k SUV.


The 2016 sales race will be very interesting.

CT will be old, and hopefully replaced mid/late in the year.

IS needs to work it's way out of the funk it's been in. It's due to be refreshed next year, but if sales continue to lag, perhaps Lexus will speed up plans for the refresh. A new V6 is needed for sure.

ES refresh will be out in larger supply, as will GS refresh. Hopefully sales increase for both.

LS is the wildcard. Will we get a new one? Or will Lexus leave the current model out to dry?

RC 200t should help coupe sales, and while I'm not expecting much sales impact, the LC will be out as well.

Looking at SUVs/CUVs, NX will be in year two of it's product cycle and the redesigned RX will have a chance to fully ramp up for delivery. GX will be ready for a replacement, and the LX should remain consistent.

What will Lexus do with the GX? 4Runner is rumored to get another refresh next year, and my gut says the same thing might happen to the GX. On the flip side, we have contrasting information about a three row CUV that seems like it could drop anytime, or be delayed inevitably.

It's always something...
 

krew

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IS needs to work it's way out of the funk it's been in. It's due to be refreshed next year, but if sales continue to lag, perhaps Lexus will speed up plans for the refresh. A new V6 is needed for sure.

Even more than the V6, it's the interior that lets the IS down. Honestly feel like the IS has dropped right off the map -- current generation was an improvement in many ways over the previous model, but it lacks something.

ES refresh will be out in larger supply, as will GS refresh. Hopefully sales increase for both.

Good point about the updated ES! Surprised there wasn't more of an upswing, but then it's not a model that has people rushing out to buy the latest edition.
 

corradoMR2

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Even more than the V6, it's the interior that lets the IS down. Honestly feel like the IS has dropped right off the map -- current generation was an improvement in many ways over the previous model, but it lacks something.

As an IS owner, I agree 100% on the interior. Although the fit and finish is excellent, the materials quality is mid-class at best and the overall effect lacks a premium luxury feel (3-series in the same boat).

As for sales numbers, I suspect the new RX has not had enough selling days in November to know its impact. We'll see Feb 1 from the January sales how well received the new RX is with the consumer since December might still have '15s being sold.

Surprised with the ES sales. The refresh has had no impact to any sales increase and in fact it still in a decline.

IS needs an upgraded interior, nothing over the top in investment, but what was intelligently done to the '16 ES is needed for the mid-cylce refresh (MY '17) and a new upper-level engine. 306 hp just doesn't cut it (same goes with the GS) against the competition.

@Lexfather. Thanks for the competitor sales numbers. Biggest surprise is the luxury compact SUV sales. X3 at the top? Anyone can explain the doubling of sales since recent months?

X3- 4,987
Q5- 4,520
RDX- 3,691
NX- 3,284
MKC- 1,805
 

Gecko

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I agree that the interior of the IS may be it's biggest downfall - more so than a decade-old V6.

In my opinion, the cockpit of the IS a bit too "boy-racer, Japanese sports car" to compete with cars like the C Class and even the 3 Series. Those cars offer nicer wood and leather options, stitching on the dash and doors, nicer accents and more customization. Even in luxury trims, the IS cockpit feels like luxury or ambiance were not priorities for the development teams.

I also personally dislike the chunk of the dash that juts out and towards the driver and passenger. Not only does it make the cockpit seem smaller and less open, but it's also just plastic and not a particularly nice material.

The 7" screen probably needs to be an inch or so larger. The 12.3" screen in other models would probably be overkill for such a small cockpit, not to mention cost prohibitive, but the existing screen is too small.

Last but not least, Lexus is still holding onto high-gloss wood trims and they are rapidly becoming out of fashion. Raw, matte or open-pore woods are the new standard for luxury and Lexus needs to at least offer them as an option in all models.
 

mikeavelli

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Corrado, nice observation on the X3 and not sure why made that triple but I guess they finally have inventory, a problem for them as the SUV is in huge demand worldwide.

The IS, I am unsure of how much allocation are the old 250 and now the new 200t. Since the 200t is new i don't think the lease programs are as aggressive as the IS 250 for now which probably has hurt sales. I expect leasing to get better for it and sales to go back up.
 

mikeavelli

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Also of note, we might pass a record 18 million cars sold this year and forecasters don't expect that number next year.
 

Gecko

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I think Volvo is going to get much stronger in the next few years. XC90 is a very impressive product and it has kicked off a renaissance for the brand with new sedans, wagons, hatches, CUVs and performance models set to follow over the next few years. Volvo is one of the few niche brands that people actually really like and believe in - and that has staying power.

Jaguar is also about to release the XE, new XF, F Pace and more CUVs...

I think it's going to be interesting to see how some of these second-/third-string players affect Acura, Infiniti and Cadillac who are all very vulnerable right now. I know that Caddy has a new product onslaught around the corner with additional CUVs, but their sedans have faltered badly and still arent catching on with consumers.

BMW/Mercedes/Lexus/Audi are solidly at the top of the heap and won't feel the impact of middle-weight players as badly, but I think brands like Jaguar and Volvo, and even Alfa Romeo, have the ability to cause serious hurt to Infiniti, Acura and Cadillac. Not to mention Genesis is just about to land, and they have true flagship product with RWD/V8s.
 

mmcartalk

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Krew and Mike....thanks for posting. :) More or less confirms what the auto-pundits were saying the last few days......it was going to be one of the best sales-months in the last 15 years. No doubt the Black Friday incentives helped ;)

Couple of comments. First, the Camaro, even with a more-dated design, seems to be doing surprisingly well against the Mustang (we'll get a new Camaro, of course, next year). Look at the Lexus RX go......the November figures (probably) include both the old and new-generation models). And the Escalade still trumps all of its rivals. ;)
 

mmcartalk

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Volvo is one of the few niche brands that people actually really like and believe in - and that has staying power.

Unfortunately, though, that's what makes Volvo a niche brand, by definition....it doesn't have very much of a following in the U.S. In the auto press, the classic stereotype Volvo owner is a schoolteacher, college professor, Safety-Nazi, or bureaucrat...but in actuality, of course, the brand has more appeal than that. Stereotypes are usually not accurate...or tell only part of the story. But it is still a small enough following in the U.S. that, as you note, it can be considered a niche brand.

Not to mention Genesis is just about to land, and they have true flagship product with RWD/V8s.

Yep.....a number of people (and maybe pundits) are clearly underestimating this potential. The Genesis V8 is nothing to scoff at.
 

mmcartalk

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Also of note, we might pass a record 18 million cars sold this year and forecasters don't expect that number next year.

A number of new models from various automakers will be either all-new or refreshed next year. So, in order to recoup their tooling/design costs, automakers are probably going to have to raise some prices (or, at least remove some incentives). That traditionally tends to lowers sales except in times of great economic prosperity.
 

Bulldog 1

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Hate to point out the obvious, but 2016 is an election year in the US, so people's spending will swing in the direction of the political climate and their confidence for the immediate future once we know who wins.
Not mentioned are ongoing super low gas prices which are driving consumer confidence in buying SUV and trucks.
It's the primary reason the hybrids have fallen off the radar the past year.
 
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Axel

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The new IS is just not nice looking as the old following it from behind. The GS is the only model that keeps getting lovelier as days goes. There is nothing wrong with the interior of the IS. It needs refreshing on the exterior. Lexus please cut that spindle grill into half now we have had enough
 

James

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The new IS is just not nice looking as the old following it from behind. The GS is the only model that keeps getting lovelier as days goes. There is nothing wrong with the interior of the IS. It needs refreshing on the exterior. Lexus please cut that spindle grill into half now we have had enough
Are you talking about the IS F Sport? Because I feel like it's the best looking IS yet. It still makes me turn when I see it, of course if you talking about the Non F sport yeah it's not as good. New IS update or refresh is what a year or two out?
 

mmcartalk

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Hate to point out the obvious, but 2016 is an election year in the US, so people's spending will swing in the direction of the political climate and their confidence for the immediate future once we know who wins.
Not mentioned are ongoing super low gas prices which are driving consumer confidence in buying SUV and trucks.
It's the primary reason the hybrids have fallen off the radar the past year.


Low gas prices or not, because of the upcoming CAFE rules, though, even independent of buying trends, we're going to be stuck with a lot of new vehicles with Mickey-Mouse engines in them unless the next President/Administration and/or Congress changes the law. Already, we're seeing not only the disappearance of some V8s and V6s, but the use of engines as small as Ford's 1.3L Ecoboost turbo in even mainstream vehicles.
 

CIF

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Nice increase for the GS and also the LX. Hoping for big things for the new refreshed LX!

VW sales as expected, fell off the map.