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A down month, but Truck/SUV sales were up with only the NX posting sales losses.
While digging into the numbers I feel like it is a repeat of last month: New LS does again not reach the 1000 target and LC again has a strange cool off: -45% And that is apparently even with incentives!
Notice that the ES still sells more than all the other cars combined. I'm really looking forward to the new model.
Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus brand also (like Mercedes-Benz) posted its steepest drop of 2018. Sales tumbled 12 percent, the fifth straight month of declines, with gains for the RX and GX SUVs overwhelmed by a 28 percent collapse in sedans. Still, Lexus was the top-selling (luxury) brand (in the U.S. market) in July, as it was a year earlier.
Not surprising at all. Lexus did a terrible job with the RX-L by not even bothering to increase the wheelbase, resulting in by far the worst 3rd-row legroom in class. They had years to get the RX-L right and they totally blew it. I'm utterly baffled by their lack of effort for this highly anticipated model.Last year I predicted the demise of the GX after RX-L hits showrooms. Apparently I was gravely wrong. At this rate another facelift will be sufficient for the upcoming years until the GX redesign is finally done.
Does anyone feel the RX-L is not boosting the RX as expected? IIRC it was supposed to add 3,000 units per month extra even after accounting for cannabalization with the 2-row RX. It is strange to see the RX staying flat.
Last year I predicted the demise of the GX after RX-L hits showrooms. Apparently I was gravely wrong. At this rate another facelift will be sufficient for the upcoming years until the GX redesign is finally done.
Does anyone feel the RX-L is not boosting the RX as expected? IIRC it was supposed to add 3,000 units per month extra even after accounting for cannabalization with the 2-row RX. It is strange to see the RX staying flat.
The Lexus GX I thinkisexclusive to the USA? - not sure but it is based on the Toyota Prado which is one of Toyota's regular best sellers throughout Africa and has earned a sterling reputation for just going on and on. Available with an oldish 3 litre diesel motor or a 4 litre V8.
The bigger Lexus LX version is available as is the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Great cars and highly respected through out Africa - the brand of choice in terms of solid rugged reliability and performance.
You are correct in Dubai the desert days out for tourists are mainly carried out in brand new Lexus LX! In Africa Lexus Brand is still finding its feet and is struggling to gain a meaningful hold into the market, however it is happening although relatively slowly and their remarkable trouble free reputation is gaining recognition. Vehicle range is rather limited and pricey. The Germans all very strong in this market and of course the Toyota Brand is our top seller but has a full range of models available by comparison with Lexus and up until recently the Corolla was manufactured in South Africa for export to Australia. The Toyota'bakkie' ( smaller trucks and the Fortuner) are now their best sellers.GX is sold in other markets, but it sells by far the best in the US.... LX on the other hand sells excellently in some other countries, especially Arab ones and its worldwide sales are close to GX's.
Lexus revived the GX from imminent death.
Also, the LS topped the flagship sedan segment for the first time in a long time.
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
On the face of it, 5LS sales in July 2018 certainly topped the segment for the first time in a long time.
However, I'm not sure if 5LS "really" or "genuinely" topped the segment?
You are correct in Dubai the desert days out for tourists are mainly carried out in brand new Lexus LX! In Africa Lexus Brand is still finding its feet and is struggling to gain a meaningful hold into the market, however it is happening although relatively slowly and their remarkable trouble free reputation is gaining recognition. Vehicle range is rather limited and pricey. The Germans all very strong in this market and of course the Toyota Brand is our top seller but has a full range of models available by comparison with Lexus and up until recently the Corolla was manufactured in South Africa for export to Australia. The Toyota'bakkie' ( smaller trucks and the Fortuner) are now their best sellers.
A very interesting post with info regarding the sales of the S Class. I am inclined to agree for starters the LS really needs a V8 motor and whilst styling is always subjective the pic of the future model is very dramatic and probably more attention grabbing. Having said that the new LS IMO is a pretty good looking vehicle and possibly more so in the metal. My complaint with Lexus is that they always take so long to respond to sort out gaps in their range or to improve and modernize, obviously the plus of this is their enviable trouble free reputation - everything seems to be tried and tested thoroughly before put into production and one cannot argue against that. The one obvious flaw seems to be their version of BMWiDrive which has been universally complained about in every single road test, yet they persist with their touch pad system. Why?On the face of it, 5LS sales in July 2018 certainly topped the segment for the first time in a long time.
However, I'm not sure if 5LS "really" or "genuinely" topped the segment?
The current model Mercedes S Class debut in October 2013 with a whisker below 2,000 units/month.
In its first 12 months, the current model S Class averaged over 2,000 units/month.
Incredibly, in its first 46 consecutive months, the current model Mercedes S Class sales was ALWAYS sold in 4 digits [x,xxx] per month, and sales NEVER ever dropped to only 3 digits [xxx] per month.
Only on its 47th month did Mercedes S Class sales drop into 3 digits, ie 999 or less.
Since its debut in October 2013 and after 57 months on the market, the current model Mercedes S Class monthly sales has only ever dropped to 3 digits per month on two (2) occasions:
1) August 2017, and
2) July 2018.
If you think that the current model Mercedes S Class sales and popularity is stunning, just remember that the first four generations of Lexus LS's ALWAYS outsold the pants off the Mercedes S Class on debut.
The first four generations of Lexus LS's had a reputation for being an S Class killer.
The all new 5LS - I don't mind President Akio deliberately making it a "halo" low volume sports niche with a low center of gravity, and a front mid-engine layout for respectively lower and shorter cabin - and having the top selling RAV4, Camry, RX & 7ES subsidise the cost of 5LS production - however, IMO I do believe 5LS needs to be more attractively styled like the LF-FC to really turn heads, and be remembered as a classic halo model after nearly 12 years of development.
I realise that sedans are being replaced by SUV tall wagons, but apart from its domestic market of Japan JDM, I'm sure that a more attractively styled 5LS could sell much better than what it is presently doing in export markets.
Normally, we don't bother with Mercedes-Benz sales in their domestic home market of Germany, because we know there is bias with Mercedes taxis everywhere.
In the same way, we understand that Lexus sales in their domestic home market of Japan is also subject to similar bias.
The United States on the other hand is a neutral third party market, and the biggest luxury motor vehicle market in the world.
In the past, I believe that the LS stood "half-way" between the Mercedes S Class, and the unpopular low volume drop-outs: like the 7 Series, A8, Jaguar XJ, Genesis G90 and the axed Infiniti Q45.
Now, I believe that the all new 5LS has joined the unpopular low volume drop-outs, and that an intermediate between the acknowledged worldwide diplomat's benchmark Mercedes S Class no longer exists.
Lexus is a great marque, and Lexus can hold its own, without having to be compared to the entry level Hyundai Genesis luxury division to justify Lexus' excellence.
The first four generations of Lexus LS's had a reputation for being an S Class killer.