Japanese Brands Forced To Regroup After Losing Grip On US Luxury Market

Three decades after crashing the European luxury car party, Japan's top brands — Lexus, Acura and Infiniti — are stepping up their game.

Crossing swords with the veteran premium marques — BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar/Land Rover and Cadillac — has brought mixed results for the Japanese in North America. While Toyota's Lexus division quickly made solid inroads into the premium market segment from its start in 1989, Honda's Acura offshoot and Nissan's Infiniti nameplate have found the going much tougher. Now all three Japanese brands are revising their strategies and launching a flood of new models.

For U.S. consumers emboldened by the recovering economy and looking to step up to a premium segment car or crossover, the result is a forthcoming host of fresh alternatives to the traditional European offerings.

Larrybel2000 - 3/8/2012 11:11:54 AM

0 Boost

They wound up being just like the rest. They need to concentrate on reliability inexpensive repairs and offer maintenance plans..

curriescorner - 3/8/2012 1:09:58 PM

+1 Boost

This article is written about luxury brands so I'm not sure why you are referencing Camry's, Accords, Jukes and Murano's(economy cars) for your comparison.

Lexus and Acura has taken the biggest hit. Infiniti has never had a grip on the US Luxury Market.

LexSucks - 3/8/2012 3:56:47 PM

-2 Boost

"Lexus seems to be well into a plan to redo their entire lineup,"


- Long overdue. The current Lexus lineup is stale beyond belief.

enthusiastx11 - 3/9/2012 9:02:08 AM

-1 Boost

agreed. looong overdue. and still slow in coming. and even the new car that has arrived--the GS--is incredibly boring looking in person. the rear is a dead ringer for an acura and the side is bland as can be. nice interior, but that's not going to sell the car.

MercedesSL - 3/9/2012 9:33:53 AM

+2 Boost

The new GS is selling well. It sold 2,400 units compared to Audis new A6 which only sold 972 units last month.

kussimek - 3/8/2012 11:06:35 PM

-4 Boost

They will lose more after Alan Mulally fixes Lincoln, he is now concentrating on that brand. Can't wait to see what he does to that brand. I bet it will be very impressive