Lexus SUVs Now Dominate the Sales Mix
For the entire year of 2015, Lexus sold an approximate 50 / 50 mix of cars and SUVs. But following industry trends, SUVs have taken the lead. For the year so far, based on numbers through May, SUVs make up 57% of total Lexus sales. What does that mean for Japanese premium luxury marque?
Well, it means that the new RX, Lexus’s bread-and-butter, is doing well. Also, the relatively new NX crossover is also growing in sales over the car counterparts. But even at the high end, growth is being seen in both the GX and LX line of products.
The resurgence in the top-end is really the most surprising. Sure, the LX was recently refreshed, but it was as mild of a refresh as possible, and the GX is relatively growing long in the tooth. However, both of these body-on-frame SUVs are selling well for Lexus.
This shift towards SUVs is industry-wide. Looking a major American automaker like Ford, their car sales were down 25% last month, but trucks and SUVs are both up.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see more SUV offerings from Lexus in the near future. Not only are these vehicles more of what buyers are looking for, but they also are typically higher margin vehicles than their car counterparts. That’s a win for the buyer and a win for Lexus.
What will happen when gasoline prices rise again? I’m not sure, but it seems that America’s thirst for SUVs hasn’t been satiated.
Let us know what you think in the comments below or over in the forums!
via [Lexus]
