Lexus IS-series has 980% sales increase

Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported its best-ever first-half sales in 49 years of business in the U.S. with calendar-year-to-date (CYTD) sales of 1,223,542.June sales of 223,018, an increase of 14.4 percent over last June, contributed to a record-setting second quarter, with sales of 678,691units.

"With no real let-up in gas prices, market dynamics are unchanged," said Jim Lentz, TMS executive vice president. "Fuel-efficient products continue to drive the market, even as consumers are likely becoming acclimated to today's fuel prices. Buyers are turning to hybrids and smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles as a hedge against future uncertainty."

The Toyota Division posted its best-ever June with sales of 195,332, up 15.7 percent. The Lexus Division reported best-ever June sales with 27,686 units sold, an increase of 6.3 percent.

Toyota Division passenger cars recorded best-ever June sales of 117,769, up 21.7 percent over the same period last year. Passenger car sales were led by the Corolla, which posted best-ever June sales of 37,311 and an increase of 38.7 percent over last June. The Camry Hybrid, which
went on sale in late April, reported sales of 4,268 units in June. Camry, Camry Solara and Camry Hybrid enjoyed best-ever combined June sales of 41,427 units, up 9.8 percent. The all-new Yaris subcompact, which went on sale in March, posted sales totaling 6,888 units for the month. The Prius gas-electric hybrid mid-size sedan posted best-ever June sales of 9,696, an
increase of 0.8 percent.

Toyota Division light truck sales were up 7.6 percent, with a best-ever June total of 77,563 units. Light truck sales were led by the RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) with best-ever June sales of 13,204, up 103.5 percent over the same period last year. 4Runner enjoyed June sales of 8,647 units, up 4.1 percent. The all-new FJ Cruiser, which went on sale in March,
reported sales of 6,366 units. The Highlander Hybrid gas-electric mid-size SUV reported sales of 2,705 units for the month. The Highlander and
Highlander Hybrid posted combined June sales of 10,436.

June marked Scion's three-year sales anniversary. Scion reported best-ever June sales with 15,837 units sold. The tC sports coupe led the way with best-ever June sales of 7,462 units, up 11.3 percent. Scion xB sales were up 46.5 percent, posting best-ever June sales of 5,964 units.

The xA also had strong sales totaling 2,411 units in June, up 15.7 percent.

Lexus passenger cars posted best-ever June sales with 15,842 units, an increase of 23.6 percent. Passenger car sales were led by the all-new ES
350 luxury sedan with best-ever June sales of 7,645 units, up 26.4 percent.

The IS luxury sport sedans reported best-ever June sales of 4,461 units, a 980.1 percent increase. The IS 250 sales totaled 3,253, with the IS 350 recording sales of 1,208 units. The all-new GS 450h luxury hybrid performance sedan posted sales of 231 units, while combined sales of the GS 430 and GS 450h totaled 420 units.

Lexus Division light trucks reported June sales totaling 11,844 units. The 2006 RX 400h luxury hybrid vehicle, reported sales of 1,190 units for
the month. The RX 350 and RX 400h enjoyed combined June sales of 9,651
units.

Click on sales charts to enlarge:

KeyserSoze - 7/3/2006 2:51:05 PM

+2 Boost

Impressive!!

Ben55 - 7/3/2006 3:39:10 PM

-1 Boost

Lexus does it again. They sure did

9%, 0.4%, -51%, -25%, -8%, -27%, 930%, -22%, -28%, -1%

7 out of 10 NEGATIVE.

THIS BRAND IS A POS

dblo7 - 7/3/2006 4:48:51 PM

0 Boost

Well Toyota's number are based on their low end cars with exception of its IS Lexus. They did a great job with the revamped IS, too bad the 350 only comes in auto which is lame. Most of the negative numbers comes from vehicle that have not received any refreshing updates and from a company stand point already paid for itself. The new Tundra and LS should bring more positive numbers.

BMWRocks - 7/3/2006 5:04:18 PM

0 Boost

Well, wait until the 335 comes out this september. Then 8 of 10 will be negative. But I will give credit where it is due. IS is a good car, and deserves those good sale number (no competion right now).

BMWRocks - 7/3/2006 5:26:03 PM

0 Boost

980% means abolutely nothing. Stop this crazy number game.

KeyserSoze - 7/3/2006 5:42:14 PM

0 Boost

Well Toyota's number are based on their low end cars with exception of its IS Lexus. They did a great job with the revamped IS, too bad the 350 only comes in auto which is lame.

Check out this link, http://my.is/forums/showthread.php?t=296570

You Will be able to swtch off VIDM.

KeyserSoze - 7/3/2006 5:54:15 PM

0 Boost

THIS BRAND IS A POS.

Eat dust! @ least they are doing something right!

Now please dont start with your MB & German Crap stories.

Wake up! The times are changing, maybe sometime after me and you are long dead, TATA will be a force to be reckoned with who knows? NEVER SAY NEVER!

Lexus together with other so called "non premium brands" Are shaking up the industry and the status QUO is being challenged. Only the sales will tell!

You go back to you that dark cave you have been hiding in all this time, by the time you come out again, you will truly be shocked indeed.So prepare yourself.

mkk21 - 7/3/2006 7:11:54 PM

+2 Boost

Yeah some of the vehicles have seen declines, but if you look at the company overall, it has actually increased its sales as a whole.

I'm thinking (and hoping) that the reason why the IS 350 comes only in automatic was for the interim condition. That Lexus is actually planning and fine tuning a much higher performing model right now. Make the 250 manual and automatic for those who don’t really care for a high performing vehicle, just put in a smaller engine and make it cheaper. Then release a higher performing version, but put the automatic with the lower end and make the higher end a manual. So in the final condition the 350 is actually at the lower end of the higher performing IS.

rack - 7/3/2006 10:03:31 PM

+2 Boost

The models that have the big drops haven't had a significant overhaul in 5-6 years, Like the LS and the SC.

With 3 new LS models around the corner, who is going to buy the current one?

The SC is in dire need of an overhaul, but with the new design direction that lexus is heading in, I am sure it will be incredible.

rack - 7/3/2006 10:04:26 PM

+2 Boost

Both of these models need some cosmetic work.

Ben55 - 7/4/2006 3:17:25 AM

0 Boost

Here is a little comparison:

The C and old IS were introduced the same year (2001).

The IS was discontinued after 5 years. The C will be sold for 7 years. That's a 40% longer lifespan.

MB June #s for the C class are more than the YEARLY sale #s of the IS (2005).

MB June #s for the 6 YEAR OLD C are almost dead even with #s of the BRAND NEW IS.

That is truly pathetic.

Lexus better redesign the "Camry on stilts" very soon if they plan on competing.

Their pathetic cars just don't cut it.

Good thing the US is in love with their SUVs, otherwise this brand would be nowhere.

CNK and HUHU are living in Toyota land. Care to check what the rest of the world thinks of Lexus?

The Germans are outselling them in Japan and you guys act as if you discovered something.

Enjoy your toasters and blenders!!!

JUGNU - 7/4/2006 5:46:23 AM

+2 Boost

If u hate Lexotoyota so much then why u come to their blogs everytime.
I don't want to explain u anything,u r a fool,who drives a cheap old GMC.

Well Lexus is on a roll here,in a previous blog it was written "Lexus GS450h beats rivals" and now this IS series has 980% sales increase.
Well i am waiting for the LS's intro in the market.It will bring marvels to the company.

JOVI

"but I am telling you that the IS will not dent 3er sales, nor the c-klasse, nor the A4... The IS will steal sales from G35, TL, and other posers of the class... "

Then why do u think BMW is improving the engine so early,and couldn't resist waiting for it's midlife refreshment.
Why this---->330i to 335i so early.

coz IS was a big threat to the so called benchmark,and it started denting the 3 series sales,that's why all these improvements and TURBOSSSSS.

again a clue to the intelligents and true CARMEN.

JUGNU----->THE CARMAN

JUGNU - 7/4/2006 5:46:23 AM

+2 Boost

KeyserSoze - 7/4/2006 6:15:07 PM

+2 Boost

You are living in Daimler Chrysler land.

Hyundai - 7/4/2006 11:18:40 PM

0 Boost

It is an I-6........ SORRY! I just had to intrude...

JUGNU - 7/5/2006 5:52:54 AM

0 Boost

"And reasons why Lexus won't surpass BMW/MB anytime soon:

- lack of dealer and service networks, witch also equall low(er) resale value
- lack of production capacity
- lack of awarness of the brand or negative asotiations (rebadged Toyotas vs. the real thing)
- lack, for most parts of proper products with regional specifics
- lack of properly designed cars (exception IS)
- badge snobery of conservative/traditionalist fans/customers (mainly in Europe)
- diferentiation "

I think these are the reasons for u and many pupil like u, to not like Lexus.And don't talk about Europe that they will not accept Lexus,or Lexus will not do that good there.

Europe had accepted Lexus dearly and Lexus is doing well there and improving day by day.
It's u people,the snobs,owning a car for it's badge,traditionalist,old thinking people,previous century's people..etc who don't want or cannot see Lexus winning or even competing.

So shut up.Your Logic and points for Lexus not being so popular in Euroge is just crap,garbage.

And if u want to answer my question of BMW's soon engine and performance improvement.Then answer with facts or true Logic.

JUGNU----->THE CARMAN

JUGNU - 7/5/2006 5:52:54 AM

0 Boost

DarkOneForce - 7/6/2006 9:05:57 AM

0 Boost

To JUGNU:

Who are you tring to fool ?!
Europe has accepted Lexus dearly ?!

Lexus of Europe is mostly Lexus UK, and from a model point of view, Lexus Europe is Lexus IS, IS 22d to be more acurate.

They've been trying to crack the european market since ~ 1990 in one way or another.

You had Lexus thru both the Toyota way or thru importers legal or not so legal.

Thus you ended up with the same model badged as a Toyota, Lexus and even Toyota Lexus.

This was very bad for image.

The RX witch is 1/3 of USA sales is a failure in Europe, much like just about any other Lexus model.

The LS was and is outsold by the exotic Masereati Quattroporte in Germany.

Even worse, they didn't pay much atention the europeans needs and situation.

BMW 530i explained things pretty well.

I and BMW 530 have given only given you objective reasons, it's up to you to accept them or not.

To huu76:

Toyota doesn't sell ~ 1.2 million cars in the whole of Europe right now, it's non-sense to belive they'll sell that amount in Germany only anytime soon.

But you can dream about it.

Also the I6 3.0 litre TT is build for diferent purposes than the 3.2 litre I6 NA (M3 & Z4 M)engine.

3.2 I6 NA = performance and exclusivity
3.0 I6 TT = performance + fuel eficiency + low CO2 emissions + lower displacement (= a lot tax breaks in Europe)

And you're also missing the big picture, why is Toyota
Europe is not as succesfull as Toyota USA .

Because apart from the UK, on other major markets, people buy mostly from their national manufacturers.

The french buy mostly french cars, italians mostly italian cars and germans mostly german cars.

The exceptions are the premium segments were MB/BMW/Audi dominate.

And this can be Toyota's big break if they can shake the japanese kitch copy image and replace it with a real deal image.

MercBasher - 7/6/2006 5:57:57 PM

+2 Boost

Lexus will continue to gain market share in the US, Europe and worldwide - why?

Its simple really, here are my hypotheses - feel free to argue with any of them
(i.) the marketplace is evolving and customers put a premium on new designs - check out the US sales figures, newer vehicles tend to sell well
(ii.) it costs money to develop new products
(iii.) profitable companies will be able to develop new products faster
(iv.) Lexus is part of a very profitable company, Toyota
(v.) Competitors such as Mercedes and Audi are part of companies that are much less profitable (DCX and VW)
(vi.) Lexus can afford to make more mistakes in new product design and performance - for example I think the GS is not going to age well - but can reduce cycle times to the next new model so a mistake is relatively less costly to Lexus than say for Mercedes or Audi.
(vii.) Lexus prices in Europe are much much higher than in the US. Anytime Lexus wants additional market share in Europe all it has to do is slash prices and watch the competition squirm.

Thoughts?

DarkOneForce - 7/6/2006 6:47:32 PM

-1 Boost

(i.) debatable to product, its cycle, region, and local policy.
Yes the market is evolving, but if the product isn't a proper one, it doesn't matter if it's newer.
And ofcourse MB/BMW/Audi have respoded to the new demands.
For example in Europe:
diesels, every transmision type you could posibly want, wagons, hatchbacks, AWD, all sorts of opions, leasing, etc.
(ii.) true
(iii.) partialy true, but they also have to do this properly
(iv) true
(v) true, but MB and Audi usualy generate more profit and get bigger R&D budgets them Lexus. BMW gets even more money.
(vi) maybe in America, in Europe everything they've done was a mistake, except the new IS.
(vii)Lexus and MB/BMW/Audi are more expensive in Europe because in Europe there are lots of taxes.
Like:
Value added tax + import tax (if case) + engine capacity tax + CO2 emission tax + luxury car tax.

If they slash prices they risk:
a. losing serious money;
b. getting sued for dumping;
c. damaging the brand, no price = no prestige = no real deal;
d. all of the above;

BMW530i - 7/7/2006 9:20:29 AM

+2 Boost

Wait until Toyota learns from this first serious car and improves on it.
-------------------------------

They had enough time to perfect the current IS for European needs: they didn't. This to me means that Lexus is half-heartedly attempting to breach the European market.

The IS220d won't do much. Sure, it was a step in the right direction, but then Lexus screws up by not offering an A/T transmission option (every Audi, BMW and Mercedes in the same class as the IS offers an A/T option). Worse, Lexus deleted the comprehensive safety features of the IS250 and transferred them into the IS220d. This means that the IS220d comes with only 1/3 of the safety features of the IS250. I don't understand this decision at all. Next, the engine of the IS250 is considered big in Europe, which means taxes and more taxes. Lexus needs a smaller gasoline engine for the IS and even the GS and LS. A GS250 or LS300 would be perfectly fine.

Like I said, Lexus seems to be taking the European market very half-heartedly.

Rupert - 7/7/2006 9:50:54 AM

+3 Boost

is 200 would be good, gs250 yeah and ls 300 fine. an rx diesel would be good too, and the land cruiser (standard you call 4runner and amazon you call land cruiser) needs to be changed very soon.

starfox - 7/7/2006 2:50:51 PM

+1 Boost

the new bmw 3 is so ugly that its hard to imagine whos buying it. in contrast the new is has a bold and beautiful style. so what if bmw has slightly better handling, its something you would only experience if ur pushing the car to its limits, and 99% of buyers of buyers dont do that, but you do experience acceleration at any level and the IS is the faster car for the price. what other reason could exist for going for a bmw? none whatsoever

BMW530i - 7/7/2006 4:14:54 PM

+4 Boost

People buy BMW's because of STATUS, and not because of handling. Only a small proportion of BMW buyers actually buy their car because they want a fun and well-handling car.

Rupert - 7/7/2006 4:40:17 PM

+1 Boost

you know, i heard some people don't car about acceleration.....but i don't talk to them. i don't really care if a lexus is faster, if i didn't like it (you know sometimes you just feel nothing for a car) i wouldn't buy it. if i tried a bmw and loved it, no matter how ugly, i'd buy it. this changes at the top end of the market, as many s-classes are for chauffeurs (and taxis), and so you only care about the legroom and ride comfort, not speed or handling.

OneOfOne - 7/12/2006 3:26:37 AM

+1 Boost

being the owner of an IS350 I can tell you that its a far superior car to the IS300. and I am coming from an LS430 ultra. the ride isnt that good comparatively but man the performance is excellent. having said that though, the new 3 series is gorgeous in white. I think that the interior is very poor just like the 5 series.

bmiliate - 7/13/2006 11:28:39 PM

+1 Boost

Hey, did anyone see the press a few months ago, where Toyota stated they may increase prices to avoid negative backlash due to whipping the competition?

Read it and weep. Every company - global or backyard mechanic - wishes they were in Toyota's position to be able to intentionally suppress sales by increasing prices. Apparently, they're one of the few - or only - auto manus out there that makes enough and has enough bank to plan for the long term :)