JULY 2007 Vehicles Sales
Lexus Champion
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: CA
BTW, according to the OC Business Journal, Lexus surpassed Mercedes again with 5,467 regs in the first six months, and now expected to beat Mercedes in its remaining stronghold this year.
http://www.ocbj.com/industry_article...32&aID2=116094
(reg required; excerpt follows)
Note that Newport Lexus is given credit for helping Lexus take the lead.
http://www.ocbj.com/industry_article...32&aID2=116094
(reg required; excerpt follows)
Auto Sales Slump in First Half; Lexus Leads Mercedes
By Sherri Cruz
Orange County Business Journal Staff
[...]
In sales of luxury autos, Lexus now is the frontrunner, with 5,467 registrations, up 11.7 % for the first six months. Mercedes-Benz, the county’s longtime luxury leader, had 5,359 registrations in the period, down 4.2%. BMW was up 1.2% to 4,595 registrations.
Lexus has been on the upswing, due in part to the addition of Newport Lexus last year.
For 2006, Lexus had 10,076 registrations, compared to Mercedes at 10,670 and BMW at 8,400.
This year, Lexus is expected to be the top luxury brand with 10,412 registrations, followed by Mercedes with 10,382 and BMW at 8,057.
The top selling overall brand in OC remains Toyota, which leads in six of 16 segments:
The Yaris in entry cars with 1,159 registrations; Corolla in sub-compact with 3,769; Scion tC in sporty compact with 1,086; Camry in standard midsize with 6,104; Tacoma in compact pickup with 2,751; and Sienna in minivan at 1,896.
For the first half of the year, Toyota had 21,281 registrations. The second highest was Honda with 9,990, followed by Ford at 6,501.
Gainers included Jeep, up 16.5% to 1,415; Audi, up 17% to 1,126; Mazda, up 38% to 1,622; Mini Cooper, up 15% to 506; and Saturn, up 52% to 905.
The rest of the brands, except for Lexus and BMW, were down for the first half.
The biggest decliners included: Chrysler, down 35% to 1,246; Hummer, down 29% to 316; Pontiac, down 29% to 301; Saab, down 33% to 151.
By Sherri Cruz
Orange County Business Journal Staff
[...]
In sales of luxury autos, Lexus now is the frontrunner, with 5,467 registrations, up 11.7 % for the first six months. Mercedes-Benz, the county’s longtime luxury leader, had 5,359 registrations in the period, down 4.2%. BMW was up 1.2% to 4,595 registrations.
Lexus has been on the upswing, due in part to the addition of Newport Lexus last year.
For 2006, Lexus had 10,076 registrations, compared to Mercedes at 10,670 and BMW at 8,400.
This year, Lexus is expected to be the top luxury brand with 10,412 registrations, followed by Mercedes with 10,382 and BMW at 8,057.
The top selling overall brand in OC remains Toyota, which leads in six of 16 segments:
The Yaris in entry cars with 1,159 registrations; Corolla in sub-compact with 3,769; Scion tC in sporty compact with 1,086; Camry in standard midsize with 6,104; Tacoma in compact pickup with 2,751; and Sienna in minivan at 1,896.
For the first half of the year, Toyota had 21,281 registrations. The second highest was Honda with 9,990, followed by Ford at 6,501.
Gainers included Jeep, up 16.5% to 1,415; Audi, up 17% to 1,126; Mazda, up 38% to 1,622; Mini Cooper, up 15% to 506; and Saturn, up 52% to 905.
The rest of the brands, except for Lexus and BMW, were down for the first half.
The biggest decliners included: Chrysler, down 35% to 1,246; Hummer, down 29% to 316; Pontiac, down 29% to 301; Saab, down 33% to 151.
Last edited by encore888; Aug 7, 2007 at 03:45 PM.
Lexus Fanatic
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Correct, but what Sick means is that the GS is currently selling at a slightly better pace than the M and if both continue their current pace, the GS by year's end will outsell the M.
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Yeah, and without .9% financing and lease deals to boot, and with no GS 430 production for most of this year and the M has gotten much more favorable reviews in the press. The Gs 450h is a limited production model. I expect a new marketing blitz with the GS 460 to get the GS back over 2,000 units a month soon.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2007
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From: NY
Yeah, and without .9% financing and lease deals to boot, and with no GS 430 production for most of this year and the M has gotten much more favorable reviews in the press. The Gs 450h is a limited production model. I expect a new marketing blitz with the GS 460 to get the GS back over 2,000 units a month soon.
Either way, the same could be said for the Infiniti M45 as well - a refreshed M is due out for MY2008 in addition to a brand new M45X (something the Lexus GS still has no answer for). I would expect the M to get back over 2,000 units a month soon as well once those new models are out. But let's be honest here, the majority of the sales will always come from the M35/GS350. And at this point, the M is still leading the GS for MY2007.
Lexus Fanatic
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From: A better place
When? next year? Has Lexus confirmed yet that there would even be a GS460 for MY2008? Either way, the same could be said for the Infiniti M45 as well - a refreshed M is due out for MY2008 in addition to a brand new M45X (something the Lexus GS still has no answer for). I would expect the M to get back over 2,000 units a month soon as well once those new models are out.
But let's be honest here, the majority of the sales will always come from the M35/GS350. And at this point, the M is still leading the GS for MY2007.
Either way, the same could be said for the Infiniti M45 as well - a refreshed M is due out for MY2008 in addition to a brand new M45X (something the Lexus GS still has no answer for). I would expect the M to get back over 2,000 units a month soon as well once those new models are out. But let's be honest here, the majority of the sales will always come from the M35/GS350. And at this point, the M is still leading the GS for MY2007.
You're right, most of the sales will continue to come from the GS350/M35.
Let's look at July sales for example: GS350 sales were 1798 for July, while total M sales were 1674. Infiniti does not separate M35/M45 sales like Lexus does with the GS. It's safe to say at least 100 - 200 units of the M's sales were the M45. That means the GS350 *for July* outsold the M35 by several hundred units. Again, looking at the current pace of the GS and M, the GS will be outselling the M YTD very soon, and by year's end GS should have higher sales.
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When? next year? Has Lexus confirmed yet that there would even be a GS460 for MY2008? Either way, the same could be said for the Infiniti M45 as well - a refreshed M is due out for MY2008 in addition to a brand new M45X (something the Lexus GS still has no answer for). I would expect the M to get back over 2,000 units a month soon as well once those new models are out.
But let's be honest here, the majority of the sales will always come from the M35/GS350. And at this point, the M is still leading the GS for MY2007.
Either way, the same could be said for the Infiniti M45 as well - a refreshed M is due out for MY2008 in addition to a brand new M45X (something the Lexus GS still has no answer for). I would expect the M to get back over 2,000 units a month soon as well once those new models are out. But let's be honest here, the majority of the sales will always come from the M35/GS350. And at this point, the M is still leading the GS for MY2007.
We are talking about a new 8 speed tranny/new state of the art 4.6 engine with the usual freshned face/rear vs a freshned face/rear and the addition of AWD to the same V-8 model. Again, Lexus has done almost nothing with GS lease rates while Infiniti is blasting on T.V right now .9% financing, $399 (M35) and $549 (M45) lease deals, very very very attractive (IMO).
GS 350 sales have picked up in the last few months while M sales are going down. It will be a tight race by years end!
Lexus Fanatic
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Yeah hopefully Lexus will eventually follow in light of the intensified competition.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2007
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From: NY
Lexus confirmed last year a GS 460 is coming, plant production has started, CL will have an exclusive as soon as next week. I hope the freshned M does better than the freshned FX which had sales plummet after all the updates last year.
We are talking about a new 8 speed tranny/new state of the art 4.6 engine with the usual freshned face/rear vs a freshned face/rear and the addition of AWD to the same V-8 model.
We are talking about a new 8 speed tranny/new state of the art 4.6 engine with the usual freshned face/rear vs a freshned face/rear and the addition of AWD to the same V-8 model.
In all honesty, I find the prospect of an AWD version on the V8 model of the M much more exciting than a hand me down 4.6Liter/8-speed tranny the GS may get from the LS. Infiniti obviously knows what the public wants, as they join MB, Audi, and others in offering AWD on the V8 executive class model. It would be great if Lexus followed suit, however doubtful, given the current size of the GS.
IMO, the GS receiving a hand me down V8 & tranny from the LS is not going to get potential buyers excited and waiting at the showroom doors. It may increase sales slightly (as with the new 3.5Liter), but not enough to make a significant difference. The GS needs a refresh/redesign more than it needs a new V8/tranny.
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In all honesty, I find the prospect of an AWD version on the V8 model of the M much more exciting than a hand me down 4.6Liter/8-speed tranny the GS may get from the LS. Infiniti obviously knows what the public wants, as they join MB, Audi, and others in offering AWD on the V8 executive class model. It would be great if Lexus followed suit, however doubtful, given the current size of the GS.
IMO, the GS receiving a hand me down V8 & tranny from the LS is not going to get potential buyers excited and waiting at the showroom doors. It may increase sales slightly (as with the new 3.5Liter), but not enough to make a significant difference. The GS needs a refresh/redesign more than it needs a new V8/tranny.
IMO, the GS receiving a hand me down V8 & tranny from the LS is not going to get potential buyers excited and waiting at the showroom doors. It may increase sales slightly (as with the new 3.5Liter), but not enough to make a significant difference. The GS needs a refresh/redesign more than it needs a new V8/tranny.
On top of that you refuse to accept the GS 460 is coming and will be at dealer lots in the fall?
Infiniti thinks it knows what people want, they continue to lag behind any Tier I company and are midpack with Tier II companies. Caddy and Audi>Infiniti for instance.
LOL, Lexus "hand me down" is superior to anything Infiniti offers. How about the 4.5 in the M45 is a hand down from the discontinued Q45 as well as a 3.5 engine in almost EVERY Nissan product. The GS 350 shares its 3.5 with fewer products and only the IS has it with DIRECT INJECTION. Nissan fans are jumping up and down about a possible upcoming 5.0 engine...
And Lexus ALREADY has one