When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
February 548 (partial month due to late release)
March 1008
April 999
May 908
June 789
Still #2 in sales for June, but the 7-series, which is at the end of a design cycle, was a close third with 742 sales. 12,000 is expectation for the first year.
Lexus isn't helping themselves price wise. When I bought the re-fresh LS460 in 2013 I was able to negotiate approx. $15K off the sticker price. My Lexus dealer is part of a "Lexus Plus" pricing plan where there is no negotiating off the price they post next to the sticker......and they're offering only $3K off the sticker price of the LS500.
Interesting. I wonder how that compares to the introduction for the 2007 model.
In its first full year, the old 4LS debut with nearly 36,000 units/year USA, which is almost averaging 3,000 units/month.
Normally, we must be cautious comparing to the old 4LS which was first on sale in the second half of 2006 12 years ago, because there may be a change in market conditions.
Eg Maybe no full size Genesis G90 back then? Or the G90 was much less competitive back then?
Thus, it is more accurate to compare the new 5LS relative to its current peers today like S Class etc, and see how that compares with 4LS/S Class sales back in 2007 etc.
Historically, on debut, ALL previous generations of Lexus 1LS/2LS/3LS/4LS have outsold the pants off the Mercedes S Class.
Previously, regardless of market conditions, whatever the S Class debuts with - the Lexus 1LS/2LS/3LS/4LS has on debut hands down outsold the Mercedes S Class!
Because the previous four generations of Lexus LS's sold so successfully, and only the Mercedes S Class faired well - the likes of the BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Jaguar XJ & axed full sized Infiniti Q45 - became casualties.
Originally Posted by Bob04
February 548 (partial month due to late release)
March 1008
April 999
May 908
June 789
Still #2 in sales for June, but the 7-series, which is at the end of a design cycle, was a close third with 742 sales. 12,000 is expectation for the first year.
The current model Mercedes S Class debut with over 24,000 units in its first full year USA, averaging over 2,000 units/month in its first full year.
Even today, the 5 year old S Class is selling 1,000-2,000 units/month.
Presently, the all new 5LS is the very first LS generation in history to undersell the Mercedes S Class on debut, and because the 5LS was first on sale in February 2018 in the USA, the old 5LS sold for 12 calendar years, resulting in an all new 5LS that is presently competing with a "5" year old S Class that is very long in the tooth, with the next generation Mercedes S Class due to be released in less than 24 months.
Originally Posted by scubadvr1
Lexus isn't helping themselves price wise. When I bought the re-fresh LS460 in 2013 I was able to negotiate approx. $15K off the sticker price. My Lexus dealer is part of a "Lexus Plus" pricing plan where there is no negotiating off the price they post next to the sticker......and they're offering only $3K off the sticker price of the LS500.
The 2013 Lexus LS was only a major mid-life update, hence you could get $15k off the sticker price.
The 5LS is an all new model, hence they don't want to discount much greater than $3k for fear of damaging resale values etc.
.
You have to remember too that the S Class has a huge amount of variants, it has a coupe, a convertible...in 06 those sales were broken out because that model was the CL. The market is just entirely different than it was in 06.
The LS is just not going to outsell the S Class, nor did Lexus ever intend it to.
Calling the S Class "very long in the tooth" is a huge stretch. It was just refreshed, and its still a thoroughly modern and stunning car.
Below is a diagram of S Class & LS model release dates.
Note that they are actual first release dates, and not Model Years as first popularized by the late Alfred P. Sloan of General Motors for marketing reasons.
For example, a 4GS first released in February 2012 would be called a 2013 Model Year, however its real calendar release year is 2012.
Only the original 1989 1LS competed against a 10 year old S Class, with an all new S Class released 2 years later in 1991.
In February 2018, the 5LS goes against a 5 year old S Class.
No one has ever quoted that Lexus' intent was to outsell the S Class.
However, here are the facts!
S Class is still an absolutely stunning car - better than ever in fact.
The current Mercedes S Class is the very first time in history where a current ageing S Class range has outsold an ALL NEW DEBUTING Lexus LS range.
Previous S Class Series have NEVER been able to outsell an all new Lexus LS range.
Again, ignoring what I said about the many variations of S class models now. Remember now there’s a coupe, convertible, Maybach, tons of configurations. The LS has none of that and the S Class had far fewer in the past.
But it it doesn’t fit into your narrative so who cares right?
It is Lexus' own fault for not having variations in engine choices, and variations in body styles etc.
1LS/2LS/3LS was only available with one engine option, and two wheelbase lengths - if I remember correctly.
Even if we all 2007 S Class and CL Coupe sales together, on debut the 4LS still triumphs in sales.
If something doesn't sell well, then it doesn't sell well. Period.
We must accept that, until the manufacturer can remedy.
The only other thing to do is to give manufacturer constructive feedback.
The fact that it so new and only sold a few dozen more than the old, soon-to-be- replaced 7-series should set off some alarms bells with Lexus. Unless somethings changes drastically, no way they hit 12k. Expecting to hit 1k a month and only being able to do that for 2 months right after release (and just barely) should set off more alarm bells. The next few months of sales will be very interesting. If sales drop below 700, that will be very bad news. Below 600, a disaster and big discounts will follow.
07-04-18, 02:46 PM
LS500 sales numbers
