What exactly does a new car reveal have to do with civil tensions exactly?
1. Respect for what's going on and the voices that need to be heard on more important subjects.
2. The realization that the car's "media moment" will be completely blacked out by what's going on, so it's a bad time to try to launch anything new.
A VERY well said and succinct summary of the why 2021 IS is being delayed.
Automotive News is more expansive on the subject:
June 05, 2020
Lexus delays planned reveal of IS
LARRY P. VELLEQUETTE
Toyota Motor Corp. has postponed the online reveal of the redesigned 2021 Lexus IS sedan that had been planned for June 9 in the wake of ongoing civil unrest in the U.S. over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Lexus issued a two-sentence press release today, saying it "has respectfully postponed the world premiere of the new IS, which was originally scheduled for June 9. Revised timing will be announced soon."
The Japanese automaker also
issued a statement Wednesday decrying "unacceptable bigotry and a lack of education around the COVID-19 virus to more recent societal issues of violence, killings and racism against African Americans in Minnesota, Kentucky, Georgia and elsewhere."
It had planned to introduce the redesigned luxury sports sedan from its headquarters in Plano, Texas. Lexus
announced the online event on Monday and released a teaser image with the announcement.
Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, died May 25 in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd's neck for
eight minutes and 46 seconds while Floyd was handcuffed face down in the street.
The incident, captured on a cellphone video, set off waves of protests nationwide and across the world.
Chauvin and three other Minneapolis Police officers were fired and face felony charges in the incident. A
memorial service was held for Floyd on Thursday in Minneapolis.
https://www.autonews.com/cars-conce...-reveal?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
That is understandable. But concerning point one, is this a new PR trend (if yes, since when?) or has this always been done?
By those reasons it will never be the right time, the way the world is going it gets only worse. And there is war torn Middle East that has been going for ages, not to mention never ending issues in Africa...
Fair observations. Something to keep in mind, however, is that with IS being withdrawn from Europe and (seemingly) China, it joins the ranks of GX, arguably CT and the now-discontinued HS and GS (post-7ES) as niche regional products excluded from certain major Lexus markets. The 2021 IS launch is relevant only in Japan, Australia, Canada and the U.S. among the marque's major markets. And, among those, the latter is by far the biggest for IS. Add the fact that, per
Automotive News the launch is to take place in Plano, Texas, and the delay, while frustrating, is totally understandable.
