There is a sneak peak of the new 2004 LS450. Check it out on this website. http://www.imakenews.com/autospies/e...e000149362.cfm

 

WOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!! That's fantastic!!! Never seen anything like it.

 

I dont like it. It looks FUGLY. Also there is a TOYOTA sign in the front grill.
No wonder Lexus sales are -25% this year !

 

Actually, I think the LS's sales has slowed a little because of news of facelift that make some potential buyers wait until the 2004 comes out this fall.

 

Sales are down for the IS, LS , GS300 & GS400
A lot of Lexus driver are downgrading to Toyota camry too.

 

Sales down hardly surprising. All the Lexus models you mention are near the end of their production cycle. People holding off for new design.

 

End of product cycle and stiff competition from MB, BMW, and Infiniti.

 

Lexus is still the best selling luxury brand. If u think sales for the LS 430 are slow, check out the old or new A8, Jag XJ or new 7 series. Don't troll bub.

 

First off, my info came from www.autosite.com

The following is for SEDANS only. I chose only BMW, MB, & Lexus...although Audi & Volvo should probably be included as well. I added up the YTD 2002 sales (JAN-APR) & then the YTD 2003 sales (JAN-APR) and then compared the two for each brand's sedans. I'm going to do the whole lineup right now and post ASAP (sedans, coupes, etc.)

Lexus: 2002: 42552
2003: 33883
% Change: -20.37%

BMW: 2002: 42315
2003: 43474
% Change: 2.74%

MB: 2002: 32265
2003: 39216
% Change: 21.54%

2nd post coming up soon...

 

Their SUV page is down...which will skew the results. As soon as its up I can add that on as that is one of Lexus's strongest segments. Here are the totals for Sedans, Coupes, Convertibles, & Wagons. Lexus's only offering to the extra segments right now is the SC430. BMW & MB have a lot more to offer in terms of coupes, convertibles, & wagons. The post-SUV figures should help Lexus's overall figures greatly.

Lexus: 2002: 48056
2003: 37087
% Change: -22.83%

BMW 2002: 63192
2003: 64957
% Change: 2.79%

MB: 2002: 55330
2003: 59994
% Change: 8.43%

These numbers aren't completely solid because they aren't for the entire year, so results can be skewed. On a % basis for four months however, the results are somewhat disheartening for Lexus. I believe every model line had a decline in sales...Lexus really needs to get its redesigns out fast. MB & BMW are/have redoing/redone virtually all of their model lines. MB's coupes, convertibles, & wagon sales have slowed from last year, explaining the large decline in % change from these figures & the sedan figures from the previous post. All figures are only for the USA.

 

Oh and if someone else is bored for ~20 minutes, please feel free to double check my calcuations

 

Post SUV numbers:

Lexus: 2002: 75164
2003: 73465
% Change: -2.26%

BMW 2002: 77274
2003: 75983
% Change: -1.67%

MB: 2002: 68694
2003: 69488
% Change: 1.16%

 

If anyone is even interested now The post SUV numbers even out the big 3 luxury guys. Lexus's SUVs are saving the brand right now, specifically the new GX & RX. It's evident that the newly redesigned models of the big 3 are the ones getting new sales/maintaining sales...the older models have dropped pretty dramatically. I would think when Lexus gets its new GS & IS sedans out, as well as a refreshed LS, sales should pick up nicely. Competition is pretty stiff though.

 

April 2003 April 2003 2003 YTD 2002 YTD

Lexus ES 300 5,299 6,035 19,223 22,843 -15.80%
Lexus GS 300 852 1,173 3,178 4,678 -32.06%
Lexus GS 430 199 215 662 775 -14.58%
Lexus IS 300 1,273 1,774 4,665 5,930 -21.33%
Lexus LS 430 1,652 2,286 6,155 8,326 -26.07%

BMW 3 Series 6,394 6,545 23,597 21,432 10%
BMW 5 Series 4,204 3,929 12,827 13,518 -5.11%
BMW 7 Series 1,753 2,125 6,385 6,679 -4.40%
BMW M5 204 141 665 686 -3.06%