BMW And Mercedes-Benz Plan To Leave Lexus A Distant Third In 2012 Sales

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, poised to become the best-selling luxury brand in the U.S. this year, can keep the spot in 2012’s first quarter as it introduces its redesigned 3-Series sedan.

“We have a window to stay No. 1 in the first quarter,” Ludwig Willisch, who took over BMW’s North American operations Oct. 1, said in an interview yesterday in New York. “Our model lineup is broad. We have a lot of opportunities to get there.”

The BMW brand and Mercedes have been fighting to take the luxury sales crown away from Toyota Motor Corp. (7203)’s Lexus, which has been the annual leader for 11 years. BMW ended September in the lead with 177,679 sales while Mercedes is in second place with 170,058.



Read Article

knowitall1985 - 10/20/2011 3:24:54 PM

+8 Boost

OK!! So it's LEXUS 11 and BMW 1 in the last 12 years. Big whoop!!!

ghosthunter - 10/20/2011 3:33:21 PM

+6 Boost

well. this year has been a very difficult year for Lexus (pretty much all Japanese auto makers) thanks to NATURAL DISASTERS.

Agent009 - 10/20/2011 4:08:18 PM

-5 Boost

Actually the natural disaster is only part of the story. Out dated designs were already taking a toll on sales. They were on track to lose first place on that alone.

enthusiastx11 - 10/20/2011 7:28:19 PM

-3 Boost

calendar year 2012 has nothing to do with NATURAL DISASTERS. it's called a PRODUCT DISASTER.

enthusiastx11 - 10/20/2011 7:29:26 PM

-4 Boost

by your comment, we can only assume that you are expecting epic natural disasters in the year 2012.

ghosthunter - 10/20/2011 8:09:48 PM

+3 Boost

look. Lexus has been making boring cars year after year, in fact, their line of cars were much more boring in the last decade than this year. (which you predicated Lexus would lose sales crown year after year, for the last 5 years since i joined autopsies). and guess what.. they were the best selling luxury brand here with those boring cars.

they just introduced their Rx/Hs/Ct/LF-A very recently, 2 of which are considered to be NOT boring. so if anything can be drawn from those facts, it is 1. not boring cars killed Lexus this year, 2. natural disasters killed Lexus this year. take your pick.

enthusiastx11 - 10/20/2011 7:30:58 PM

-7 Boost

they are talking about 2012. fyi--it's currently 2011 and toyota is at 100% production.

enthusiastx11 - 10/21/2011 11:30:43 AM

-4 Boost

black you're too funny....bmw has been introducing new models/engines/updates at a rate that lexus can't even comprehend. in the past year, there have been more than 15 new models. and 2012 will see new 3-series sedans, coupes, convertibles and engines. not to mention a new M5, activeE, and M6 to name a few. not sure how you get 'one new car' out of all that. it's math.

enthusiastx11 - 10/21/2011 11:32:56 AM

-4 Boost

ooops, and i forgot the 3-series wagon, all-new 3GT, i3 and i8 models.

enthusiastx11 - 10/21/2011 12:29:27 PM

-4 Boost

oh...and the 6-series gran coupe. so about 7 new bodies and 20 new models. so, yes, 1 new car.

dlin - 10/21/2011 1:47:54 AM

+2 Boost

What a promising word - PLAN!

2ndbimmer - 10/22/2011 10:43:52 AM

-1 Boost

well, in the autospies world, people love to bring up that Lexus sells more vehicles that any other luxury brand, so hopefully this will shut those losers up.
Lexus is just a cheapo bland car from a-b. I have no idea how the LS is considered a nice vehicle. I have driven them and they are crap on the inside. The 7 series, S class and A8 are way nicer in every single aspect. oh wait, the Lexus is cheap, so it sells. I would NEVER allow any family member to drive a Lexus. I seriously want to stab myself after driving one. I feel the need to go workout after being in a Lexus because there is zero exhiliration.

knowitall1985 - 10/22/2011 4:48:07 PM

+4 Boost

Toyota produced four times as many cars as BMW did. Lexus and Toyota are the same company. BMW makes very cheap cars in europe just like Toyota.....