Can Lexus Pull A Rabbit Out Of The Hat And Save 2010?

Making bold predictions is a risky proposition at best.  But noting trends is relatively straight forward and many times leads to the same end result.

The top of American luxury market is a highly lucrative and sought after position. We have become accustom to Lexus leading this race for quite sometime, and even with the tumultuous economy year last this was no exception.  The battle for top sales spot has always been a close one with a little over 20,000 vehicle separating the top three positions last year.

On the surface the 2010 year is no different with maybe a few notable exceptions.

The sales at this time of the year are closer than they have ever been before and we have the following factors to consider.

With 145,490 unit sold, Lexus is up 11% YTD which isn’t too bad.  However they have experiencing fading sales since June  losing more ground each month and have nothing on the horizon to save them.  What is up with that strategy?

With  139,867  units sold, Mercedes sales are up 18.1% YTD with no slow down in sight, and at the current pace they could pass Lexus as early as next month and take over the number one spot.  This might not worry too many people if it weren’t for the lack of ground breaking models on Lexus behalf for the 2011 model year to spur sales in the later part of the year.

At 139,236 units sold BMW is only up 5.6% YTD.  But even at this mild pace, they MIGHT sneak ahead of Lexus if they doesn’t do something quickly. (IE: Discounting). Again BMW has been busy with new models while Lexus has simply sat on refreshes.

If this all plays out at this rate, then by the end of the year Lexus could  very well fall into THIRD place in the US Market! 

Think of the advantage that could be lost and how long it would take to make up the ground. 

Go ahead and discuss your take on this scenario and let us know who will Win, Place, and Show for the 2010 Luxury sales crown and why.  Also while you are on the topic, what would it take for Lexus to save it all and end up up on top?




 
2011 Lexus IS Photo Gallery

2011 Hyundai Equus Photo Gallery

2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS Photo Gallery

2011 Ford Edge Crossover Photo Gallery

Concours D'Elegance Monterey 2010 Photo Gallery

AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries

If you want to see your photos running on our homepage photo ticker, be sure to upload your photos on the go by sending them to Mobile@AutoSpies.com

Share on Facebook

theoptimisticpessimist - 9/1/2010 4:56:38 PM

+2 Boost

ALERT ALERT FLAMING HEADLINE!!!

GTR35 - 9/1/2010 5:14:41 PM

+4 Boost

"At 139,236 units sold BMW is only up 5.6% YTD. But even at this mild pace, they MIGHT sneak ahead of Lexus is they doesn’t do something quickly."

hahahaha i stopped reading after these sentences... "...is they doesn't do something quickly." hahahaaa Flaming Headline for shizzy though.

Agent009 - 9/2/2010 8:45:55 AM

-2 Boost

GTR35- Corrected the "s" to an "f". Maybe you should be a proof reader...

thetruth01 - 9/1/2010 5:41:22 PM

+6 Boost

I hardly see BMW sneaking past Lexus at this point. The 3 is well off its highs, and the 7 has been out a while now, so its new-ness has peaked. New models in every possible niche have only made incremental gains.

MBZ is in the best position to take the lead now thanks to continued strength of the C and the the phenomenal sales of the new E. They also occupy just about every niche.

There is simply nothing Lexus can do to hold them off without new products. And I don't think they have anything new planned for the rest of the year. Good luck.

enthusiastx11 - 9/1/2010 6:54:26 PM

-8 Boost

you're such an asshole. have you ever bought a BMW? just go try and get anything close to the deals they advertise. good luck.

JRobUSC - 9/1/2010 7:12:28 PM

-3 Boost

You realize based on those figures that the c-class lease is actually cheaper than the 3-series, right? It's about $30/mo per $1000 down. The Benz lease is $90/mo less, so it would take $3000 down on the BMW lease to match the payment, instead of the $2700 Benz is advertising.

So much for the BMW being the car for poor people. Idiot. By the way, Benz is doing the same thing with the E-class -- ridiculously low leases. There's no trophy for selling the most cars, why they'd sacrifice their heritage chasing that title is beyond me. But they can have it as far as I'm concerned.

Agent009 - 9/2/2010 9:01:02 AM

0 Boost

Huu76 -

Lexus has dropped finance rates to the lowest they can go without making it a negative. The only other option is to toy with the residual on a lease or toss incentives on the hood for a purchase.

The biggest problem is they don't have squat coming out. For the better part of a decade the consumer bought an older design for the promise of durability and safety. The issues over the last year have trashed that notion.

Buyers are now going to the competition to at least look, and they never make it back into the Lexus dealer. It doesn't take rocket science to see the this gen IS250/250 is almost identical to when it debuted in 2005.

By contrast Audi debuted the B7 chassis for the A4 in 2005 went to the B8 chassis in 2008, and is working on the B9, all in the same time frame.

BMW is a little slower in the process but at least refined the body and moved to another revision since then.

Just WHEN is the IS going to see a major revision? 2020?

enthusiastx11 - 9/1/2010 6:53:27 PM

-3 Boost

"The top of American luxury market" is a misnomer. lexus may sell the most vehicles. but they are not the best cars in most segments, often the least expensive and the majority of their cars sell in the $30-45k range. that's hardly the 'top of the luxury market' by any stretch.

0to60 - 9/1/2010 9:44:12 PM

+3 Boost

Isnt that true for BMW as well. 328's can be had for 45k and less!

enthusiastx11 - 9/1/2010 10:24:02 PM

-1 Boost

0to60:

no, because the 328 does not make up the majority of bmw sales. the second and third best selling models after the 3 are the 5 and x5....and those typically sell from $50 to $80k. and many 3 series (convertibles, 335i, 335d, 335is) sell for well over $50k.

40% of lexus sales are the RX, 25% are the ES and a bit less than that are the IS. so 85% of lexus models sell for 45 or less.

lexus dominates the low end of the mainstream luxury market, bmw dominates the middle and mercedes dominates the high end.

Agent009 - 9/2/2010 9:02:10 AM

-3 Boost

Sales volume and quality are two different topics.

theoptimisticpessimist - 9/2/2010 2:48:16 PM

0 Boost

Last month the ES,RX,IS,and HS represent 80% of Lexus sells the RX and ES alone account for 65% percent of those number. Other than the LS the other models are just bit players.

4wheelsfan - 9/1/2010 8:51:59 PM

+3 Boost

i think they have to pull out something better....

BigShow50 - 9/1/2010 9:41:28 PM

+5 Boost

For now Lexus is taking this in full stride, end of 2011 Lexus will be unveiling some new design cues & advance tech(a radical change that will get your heads scratching for a while...no joke) But putting Lexus aside...for as long as MB & BMW(Almost 100 years) been in the luxury game, I can only ask to my MB & BMW brothers & sisters, what the hell is taking them both so long to capitalize the U.S. Market? You can't deny that fact both companies had to spend that much more(especially loosing money on every build due to cost of steel vs euro currency) to up the ante on design, performance, more options(from engines to models), technology and most importantly quality to get to where they are today. And they still have not reached that goal?!?!?...Interesting thought.

Willis - 9/1/2010 10:15:00 PM

+1 Boost

Um, consumer tastes also change with time. Right now, Lexus has some pretty lame and boring designs out there. With their rivals enjoying an improvement in reliability, and offering fresher, more appealing designs, the shift in taste can be somewhat explained.

Let's not forget that Lexus hasn't introduced any new models as of late in the niches where it counts.

Agent009 - 9/2/2010 9:03:07 AM

-2 Boost

Bingo!

thetruth01 - 9/2/2010 6:02:22 PM

+2 Boost

See, 009, the answer is so obvious, then why do you keep posting threads about it? Arghhh

LexusKindaGuy12 - 9/1/2010 11:32:38 PM

+5 Boost

well at least the IS gets a minor refresh again for 2011. We can expect a new GS and CT next year and a new IS and ES within 2 years.

BigShow50 - 9/2/2010 3:11:56 AM

-3 Boost

Willis -(and his supporting cast)...I totally agree with what your saying. For sure Lexus has to do something with design, to them though they look long term and this is "Round-1 Era" of many rounds of coarse...and in due time, along with technology, safety, performance, quality and client satisfaction all over again...yada-yada-yada. It just get better and better. Especialy this day in age of how us society now gauges things in higher demand for the better for our lives/awareness of any product. Being a MB, BMW, & Lexus long term owner myself and enjoy watching these companies evolve in a postive manner. There has been an era of "customer experience" and for many I'm sure, when both companies (MB&BMW)built some blands cars, let alone the major quality issues/recalls from all over big or small, while only having the engineering performance knowledge in the back of their pocket from day one. We can all agree with that. And this company Lexus knows who they are dealing with, and they ain't stopping! C'mon guys like it or not proof is in the pudding! If this is what Lexus can do so far in the so called "Luxury game" in a matter of only 20 years in the biz. Sheeeeittt!...the way I see it I am planning on living till 100 plus years, so that means the next 65 plus years for Lexus will be chaos of Love and Hate regardless on how Lexus approaches it. Either way I can definitely say, I will be front row and center watching all this Lexus madness unfold! Along with the rest of the brands of coarse! Peace kids!!! LMFAO!!!

Joe_Limon - 9/2/2010 3:17:45 AM

0 Boost

lmfao indeed, mostly at the absurdness of your post.

StickShiftCamry - 9/2/2010 5:50:24 AM

+1 Boost

Lol Lexus with these old designs still ahead. Lexus will only get more advanced & premium & will stay ahead pretty much forever. Lexus has so much shit up their sleeves…for ex: AWD ES V6 Hybrid. The ES is already quick & fuel efficient in 3.5 form, now add some electric boost & all wheel drive…it'll just fail a non V8 A6.

JustaCar - 9/2/2010 7:50:10 AM

+1 Boost

Just the fact that you are comparing the ES to the A6 shows how little you know about cars.

Agent009 - 9/2/2010 9:04:26 AM

-1 Boost

StickShiftCamry- they can't rest on those laurels too long.

StickShiftCamry - 9/2/2010 4:26:24 PM

+1 Boost

Ok the 6 cylinder A6 is sooo different from the ES350 how?? ES accelerates much quicker than A6 3.2 (most magazines get around 5.9sec 0-60). Nd we have one in the extended family, that bitch is quick. Similar amount of leather, wood & sound deadening. The Toyota 6spd is much more engaging than the lame CVT in the FWD Audi A6..

JustaCar - 9/2/2010 8:56:57 PM

0 Boost

0-60, leather and wood..! Just confirms what I said earlier.

StickShiftCamry - 9/3/2010 12:07:23 AM

+1 Boost

Let me guess, u like taking 90° turns at 60mph. The A6 "handles better"?? The Toyota dual vvti 3.5 even sounds more barkier & gruntier than the lame sounding 3.2…

theoptimisticpessimist - 9/2/2010 2:51:24 PM

-1 Boost

Where you evidence of that, can you show me any factual information to back that up, a news story, a blog, or even a unreliabe web source. You're just making thing up again Hu.

knowitall1985 - 9/2/2010 12:36:36 PM

+2 Boost

MB is buying the market right now and still can't outsell Lexus. Every year you guy's say the same thing. It's no big deal to have the most volume, but it seems you want to outsell Lexus in the worst way. So I guess it is important after all.

thstone - 9/2/2010 12:40:45 PM

+1 Boost

I think that Lexus will keep the top spot this year by doing whatever they have to do to have a decent Q4.

On the other hand, MB and BMW have pretty much already made their year financialy and have little reason to discount any further just to add sales - instead MB and BMW will focus on profitable sales for Q4nd pump up the cash for 2011.

2011 is when it will all come crashing down for Lexus.

BigShow50 - 9/2/2010 1:40:08 PM

+1 Boost

Lmfao!....Hey Joe_Lemon_Tits! Long time no hear! Welcome!...so i see u continue to enjoy your summer being paperboy on your pink BMX streamers. Keep up the great work sister! Just imagine with a few more neighborhood routes for another few more years of hard work. You can get the ride you always wanted...Hyundai Pony while wearing your new sports bra, Awwwwwesome! Btw thanks for reading my absurd post, did not think u can make it this far in reading it considering u just graduated from hooked on Phonix.(as per your proud mama). Must have given u a headache Joe_Lemon_Tits. And also don't forget to wear helmet Joe_Lemon_Tits! LMFAO!!!