[mmcartalk]

Interesting article (and a good post), but one question that the article doesn't seem to address is if Lexus makes any engines for the Brazilian market that can run on pure ethanol (E100) or high ethanol/gas-mixtures....both of which are quite popular in that country. My car, for example, with a GM power plant, can handle E85 (85% ethanol) ...........but I'm not sure about most Lexus engines.

 

[Carmaker1]

I had thought that Lexus already had a presence in South America via Brazil as far back as 1999-2000?

It is good for them to expand, as it is the primary reason why total global sales pale in comparison to German luxury brands.

Not to go too off-topic, but I must stress that Lexus really needs to expand into the Carribean, the major cities of the tropical Americas, developing Asia, and African metropolises.

I just arrived into Lagos, Nigeria in West Africa for a visit, after briefly visiting the states (Atlanta), and as usual I am astounded at the heavy amount of Toyota products on the ground here.

1 out of 3 cars on the road here is a late model Toyota or a Lexus. I am personally being driven around in our family-owned LX570s, a GX460, as well as a Hilux and Prado GXL. Besides this one, there are many other LX570s, GXs, Land Cruiser V8s, Prados, and RX350s (plus a few NXs) in traffic here.

I already counted 15 late model LX570s (2012-present) and 32 Lexus SUVs total just driving out of the airport on the freeway. Lexus is seriously missing a big market here, considering the many grey market imports I observe each time I visit parts of Africa.

The fact that Jaguar Land Rover, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce have official retail centres here in two different cities, yet Lexus does not have a single one is laughable. South Africa should not be the only country that officially sells and services Lexus.

This is why I feel that using official sales as a measure of relevance in the luxury sector doesn't provide a full picture. Until they stop taking this overly apprehensive approach, no one can hope for them to be on the same global level as MB or BMW.

 

[krew]

krew

It's the fastest-growing region in the world for Lexus.

View the original article post

 

[meth.ix]

Sort of off topic, but I just found out that Lexus stands for Luxury EXports United States from when it was just luxury brand of Toyota in the States.

 

[Rob Grieveson]

I had thought that Lexus already had a presence in South America via Brazil as far back as 1999-2000?

It is good for them to expand, as it is the primary reason why total global sales pale in comparison to German luxury brands.

Not to go too off-topic, but I must stress that Lexus really needs to expand into the Carribean, the major cities of the tropical Americas, developing Asia, and African metropolises.

I just arrived into Lagos, Nigeria in West Africa for a visit, after briefly visiting the states (Atlanta), and as usual I am astounded at the heavy amount of Toyota products on the ground here.

1 out of 3 cars on the road here is a late model Toyota or a Lexus. I am personally being driven around in our family-owned LX570s, a GX460, as well as a Hilux and Prado GXL. Besides this one, there are many other LX570s, GXs, Land Cruiser V8s, Prados, and RX350s (plus a few NXs) in traffic here.

I already counted 15 late model LX570s (2012-present) and 32 Lexus SUVs total just driving out of the airport on the freeway. Lexus is seriously missing a big market here, considering the many grey market imports I observe each time I visit parts of Africa.

The fact that Jaguar Land Rover, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce have official retail centres here in two different cities, yet Lexus does not have a single one is laughable. South Africa should not be the only country that officially sells and services Lexus.

This is why I feel that using official sales as a measure of relevance in the luxury sector doesn't provide a full picture. Until they stop taking this overly apprehensive approach, no one can hope for them to be on the same global level as MB or BMW.

I have to agree and furthermore the marketing effort by Lexus in South Africa is frankly pathetic - and yet Toyota themselves lead the sales in SA every second car is aToyota product be it a Quantum taxi, Fortuner, Corolla etc and it would appear that the Toyota agents do not support Lexus as they should keeping re sale values low and generally pushing Toyota above and beyond Lexus which does not make a lot of sense in real terms. We do not get the Camry out here anymore so the IS is the nearest medium size saloon Toyota have out here and it is not selling in huge quantities although gradually we are seeing more Lexus products on our roads and they are building a good name for service and reliability. So the re sale value will improve despite Toyota telling everyone to rather buy a Toyota as their resale value is top of the pile here.

 

[bogglo]

In African countries and I mean any African country, seventy percent of the cars are from Japanese auto maker out of that 70% Toyota/Lexus is like 30%. So, Yes I agree. The only problem is the cars in most African countries are not brand new, and you have more roadside mechanics than you have car dealerships to fix your car.

 

[mikeavelli]

I've noticed in the past 8 years or so that Audi, Benz have new dealerships in Kingston, Jamaica and now I see Jaguar/Land Rover. They even have a new Porsche dealer downtown.

No Lexus 🙁 though there are TONS on the island, all imported.

 

[mmcartalk]

I've noticed in the past 8 years or so that Audi, Benz have new dealerships in Kingston, Jamaica and now I see Jaguar/Land Rover. They even have a new Porsche dealer downtown.

No Lexus 🙁 though there are TONS on the island, all imported.

Even aside from Lexus, though, if Jag, Land Rover, Audi, and Benz are selling there, that shows that incomes must be starting to rise on some of those traditionally poor Caribbean Islands.