NX And RX Models Make Up Almost Half Of Lexus Sales - Is It Healthy To Be That Dependent On Just Two Vehicles?

The NX200t and NX300h combined to generate 4,014 U.S. sales in May 2015, the best month yet for the six-month-old NX line. Year-to-date, 16,546 copies of the NX have been sold in America. Since the end of November, 19,473 NXs have found their way into driveways across America.

Lexus, of course, has a tradition of building wildly popular premium crossovers. The RX is perennially America’s top-selling premium utility vehicle.

As Lexus prepares to replace the current RX with an all-new, already revealed model for 2016, sales of the current RX have fallen 5% this year. It’s still far more popular than any other premium brand utility vehicle in America.

In the meantime, with the NX added to the fleet, SUVs and crossovers accounted for 49% of all Lexus volume in the U.S. over the first five months of 2015, up from 43% in the same period one year ago, before the NX. Rather inconsequentially, sales of the high-end LX are faltering, but the GX460 is up 13% year-to-date, a gain of 1108 units.

knowitall1985 - 6/30/2015 10:27:37 AM

+4 Boost

Just like the 3-Series.....

JRobUSC - 6/30/2015 11:11:52 AM

0 Boost

you'd be right except for the fact that the 3/4 series comes in sedan, coupe, gran coupe, convertible, wagon, and GT bodystyles, in rear drive or all-wheel drive, with two to four engines available per bodystyle. There's roughly two dozen 3/4 series variants. So not quite the same as the NX and RX, which each basically come in only two or three variants. There's a big difference between half your sales coming from 5 models and half coming from 25.

USNA1999 - 6/30/2015 10:50:40 AM

+1 Boost

I think this is where every car manufacturer is heading, SUVs/CUVs have taken over as the biggest volume sellers. PORSCHE is killing it with the Cayenne and Macan.
As for LEXUS, the NX is seen as its entry level model for everyone that wants the badge for around $35k. They are giving them away here in FL for $329 per month, so that helps sales. The IS and ES sales will be hit by the success of the NX. I still cannot believe they cannot surpass Q5 sales which has been on the market for too long without any major changes.

bnilhome - 6/30/2015 11:02:18 AM

+2 Boost

I think the redesign of the RX will help decrease this statistic. I think the NX design is pretty sharp, but the new RX design is way over the top, and I think traditional RX buyers will either move to the NX if they are loyal to Lexus, or they will look at other luxury automakers.

TheSteve - 6/30/2015 11:19:29 AM

+1 Boost

I recall an Audi press release where they predicted than within a few years, somewhere around 40% of their unit sales will be comprised of SUVs. It's where the consumer demand is.

MDarringer - 6/30/2015 12:55:42 PM

+2 Boost

To Lexus' credit, the next RX is coming in two versions, 5 and 7 seat, which will broaden their coverage. The NX is a great product that is striking a chord with customers. I'd add a crossover coupe into the mix and possible even a B-segment crossover.

Sciros - 6/30/2015 5:35:56 PM

+1 Boost

SUVs and CUVs are usually very useful/practical so it makes sense. Nothing wrong with it. If demand starts to shift then the savvy manufacturers will figure it out and take advantage once more. Not too worried about Lexus.

If anything, I'm surprised it took as long as it did for them to release something like the NX.