WORLDWIDE SALES 2015 - Lexus ends the year with sales 12% up on the previous year, 2016 will be bigger.

Lexus International today announced it sold approximately 652,000 vehicles globally in 2015, up 12 percent from 2014. A full year of the all new RC and NX sales, and the introductions of redesigned ES, RX, and LX models, furthered market share increases in many global markets including Japan, U.S.A., and Europe. 

Sales in Europe increased 20 percent to approximately 64,000 vehicles, the most for a major market in percentage terms; including a 31 percent gain in Western Europe.  Sales in China increased to approximately 88,500 vehicles, a 14 percent increase; and North America sales increased to approximately 368,000 vehicles, a 12 percent gain. 

Accentuating its luxury hybrid leadership, with almost 1 million hybrid Lexus vehicles sold to date, hybrid sales globally were approximately 149,000 vehicles and accounted for 23 percent of sales.

Mark Templin, Executive Vice President at Lexus International said: “2015 was an amazing year for Lexus International.  In addition to the new and redesigned models in our stable, we began rolling out our most advanced vehicle safety portfolio – Lexus Safety System +, and began ES production in North America.  

Our entire vehicle line-up design has evolved to be more bold and emotional, and our brand initiatives are resonating as an extension of the Lexus ownership experience.  We appreciate luxury consumers taking notice and honoring us with a fourth straight year of double digit percentage growth.” 

At Lexus, we believe growth is the product of doing the right things for our customers and building brand advocacy.  The following are just some of the activities we undertook and industry honors received in 2015.

Initiatives

The first INTERSECT BY LEXUS luxury brand experience space outside Japan opened in Dubai, UAE.  This new two story space is located in the heart of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC). 

Lexus named the first automaker winner of the Milano Design Award for Best Entertaining for its "Lexus – A Journey of the Senses" exhibit at Milan Design Week, the world's largest design exhibition.  Additionally, the first-ever Lexus Design Award Grand Prix winner was announced.

The third Lexus Short Films Series winners announced at the Napa Valley Film Festival.  In 2013, Lexus Short Films was launched with the goal of supporting and nurturing a new generation of emerging filmmakers. 

The ninth annual Lexus Eco Challenge registration opened with a chance to win $500,000 in grants and scholarships.  Through the Lexus Eco Challenge, students will learn about the environment, team work and how they can take steps to make their communities better.

Lexus partnered with leading super conductive technology experts to create one of the most advanced Hoverboards ever.  The Lexus Hoverboard is part of the global ‘Amazing in Motion’ campaign. 

Lexus established “The Lexus Endowment” of $100,000 at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), one of 19 schools that offer a PGA Golf Management program that covers a broad range of aspects of the golf enterprise, and the only historically black institution to offer such a program. 

Honors

Lexus named the Luxury Brand with the Best Resale Value in Kelley Blue Book’s 2016 Best Resale Value Awards. This is the fifth year in a row Lexus has been named the luxury brand with the best projected retained value through the initial five-year ownership.  Six 2016 Lexus models were honored with Best Resale Value for their perspective vehicle categories: RC 200t/RC 300/RC 350, ES 300h, GS 200t/GS 350, RX 450h, GX 460, and LX 570. 

The NX 200t was awarded ‘Best Compact Premium SUV’ at the 2015 Middle East Car of the Year Awards (MECOTY). 

CT was the overall winner in the Car Environmental List, an annual evaluation by the Traffic Association Germany (VCD). 

Lexus topped the largest car satisfaction surveys, Autoindex, in Sweden and Norway, for the fourth time. 

Lexus dominated the Auto Express Driver Power 2015 survey, receiving six awards including those for best manufacturer and – for the IS saloon – best car. The IS also took the top spot in the best compact executive car category and was the highest­ rated model for ease of driving. The NX was named best car for build quality within its first six months on the road in the UK. 

The independent German institute for environmental research ‘Ökotrend’ (Ecological Trend) and the car magazine ‘Auto Test’ recognized the GS 300h as the most ecological car in the premium middle class.  The evaluation of the vehicle’s environmental performance was conducted based on its fuel consumption and emissions for its entire life cycle, including production, logistics and recycling. 

RX achieved the best-ever pedestrian protection score out of all large SUVs ever tested by Euro NCAP and achieves a 5 –Star rating.

CT , ES, RC, and NX, earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK+, IIHS’s highest recognition for crashworthiness and front crash prevention.  

Lexus ranked highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates for a fourth consecutive year in the 2015 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). The ES ranked highest in the Compact Premium Car segment and the GX was awarded among Midsize Premium SUVs.  The ES was the highest ranked model among all vehicles in the study.  

Product Highlights

Lexus Safety System +, a portfolio of active safety technologies designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions across a wide range of vehicle speeds package began rolling out in Japan, North America and Europe.

ES 350 production began in Georgetown Kentucky.  

Regional Highlights

Al-Futtaim Motors, exclusive distributor of Lexus in the UAE, officially inaugurated a new facility in Ras Al Khaimah, making it the first Lexus 3S Centre in the UAE (sales, service and spare parts) and bringing to 17 the total number of Lexus facilities in the UAE. 

2015 was the first full year of sales in Vietnam, after opening our first dealership in Ho Chi Minh City followed by Hanoi in 2014

Approved in July 2015, Lexus’ first dealership in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, opened its doors at a temporary location in November.  A newly constructed Lexus showroom and service facility will open later this year.

Sales by Region

North America:  Approximately 368,000 vehicles, 12 percent increase

China:  Approximately 88,500 vehicles, 14 percent increase

Europe:  Approximately 64,000 vehicles, 20 percent increase

Japan:  Approximately 48,000 vehicles, 9 percent increase

Middle East:  Approximately 44,400 vehicles, 5 percent increase

East Asia and Oceania: Approximately 30,000 vehicles, 10 percent increase

Other markets combined:  Approximately 9,400 vehicles, 26 percent increase

NOVEMBER USA SALES - TOYOTA - The best selling brand retains #1 retail brand honour.

• Toyota Division #1 Retail Brand
• Lexus posts best-ever November sales
• Light Trucks and SUVs set November records

Toyota, Scion and Lexus today reported total November 2014 sales results of 183,346 units, an increase of three percent over November 2013 on an unadjusted volume basis.  When adjusted for  25 selling days in November 2014 versus 26 selling days in November 2013, sales increased 7.1 percent over year-ago month.

Toyota division posted November 2014 sales of 155,874 units, up 2.3 percent.

“Auto industry sales during Thanksgiving weekend were even better than expected,” said Bill Fay, Toyota division group vice president and general manager. “Consumer demand for light trucks continues unabated and Toyota dealers set new November sales records for light trucks and SUVs.”

Lexus reported November sales of 27,472 units, a 7.3 percent increase on a raw volume basis year-over-year.

“Lexus set an all-time November sales record thanks in part to the momentum surrounding the arrival of the newest edition to the lineup, the RC coupes,” said Steve Hearne, vice president for sales and dealer development.  “As a result, Lexus outpaced the luxury market with strong growth for both passenger cars and utility vehicles.”

Other Highlights:

• Total Light Truck sales up 7.1 percent, year-over-year
  • Toyota 4Runner up more than 53 percent for the month
  • Highlander post record November sales of 13,476, up 16.7 percent
  • Tacoma sales up 3.3
  • RAV4 record November sales of 21,108
  • Lexus RX leads luxury segment, with sales of more than 9,500 units
  • Lexus GX up about 20 percent
• Corolla posts sales of more than 25,000 units, up 14.2 percent
• Camry posts sales of nearly 29,000 units
• Lexus ES is volume leader with sales of 5,884 units
• Lexus IS increased 16 percent
• All-new RC posted sales of 880 units
• Lexus GS sales up 15.5 percent

*Note:  Unless otherwise stated, all figures reflect unadjusted raw sales volume

2014 GX 460 priced at $49,085 — $4,710 less than the 2013 model year

• 2014 GX 460 priced at $49,085 — $4,710 less than the 2013 model year
• Redesigned GX features the Lexus spindle grille, standard LED headlamps, DRLs and available LED foglamps, and new multi-media with eight-inch touch screen display audio and complimentary HD Radio Real-Time Traffic and Weather
• New Premium Package includes Navigation, Park Assist, Three Zone Climate control and heated rear seats at the same price as the base 2013 GX 460.
• The new Luxury grade includes Navigation, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and an Adaptable Air Suspension at a starting price of $60,715.

The redesigned 2014 Lexus GX 460 luxury utility vehicle (LUV) will be offered in two grades when it arrives at dealerships beginning in September. The standard GX will carry a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $49,085, $4,710 or nearly nine percent less than the previous year; while the Luxury model which will be priced at $60,715. The MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $910.

The 2014 GX 460 redesign features a new interpretation of the Lexus spindle grille with standard LED headlamps and daytime running lights. LED fog lamps are now available.  The luxurious and spacious GX receives several interior enhancements. A new touch-screen display audio adds an eight-inch screen, backup monitor, HD Radio™, Bluetooth® audio, automatic phone book transfer, a vehicle information display and complimentary traffic and weather data provided via HD Radio.  The cabin also gets new linear espresso wood/abyss black trim. Mahogany wood trim is included on both the Premium Package and Luxury model.  For 2014 the GX offers an available Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).

The Lexus GX continues to provide additional value to drivers who want a fully capable LUV. The new Premium Package will be at the same price as the base 2013 model year GX 460 and has the following features:

• Navigation system with backup monitor
• Perforated leather trimmed interior
• Heated & ventilated front seats
• Heated outboard rear seats
• Intuitive Parking Assist
• Three Zone Climate control

The new GX Luxury model includes Adaptable Air Suspension, Navigation, Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Intuitive Parking Assist, and 18-inch split six-spoke wheels with liquid graphite finish.

The Lexus GX 460 teams a 4.6-liter V8 engine with a six-speed Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) for an output of 301horsepowerat 5,500 rpm. The GX 460 has an EPA-estimated 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.
The GX has a class leading standard 10 airbags and on the Luxury model available Advanced Pre Collision with Driver Monitor.

The GX 460 is one of the few premium luxury utility vehicles that can deliver genuine trail driving capability.  Combining that capability with Lexus luxury and on-road performance makes it even more exceptional.  The standard full-time four-wheel drive uses an electronically controlled transfer case and a TORSEN® torque-sensing limited slip center differential which can be electronically locked.  It also offers a low range for off-road driving.  The TORSEN differential distributes power 40:60 front/rear under most driving conditions and changes the ratio as needed based on wheel slip.


The ability to change to a 30:70 front/rear ratio during steering maneuvers helps enhance vehicle tracking through curves.  If the rear wheels spin, the center differential can change the ratio to 50:50
front/rear to help control the slippage.

By adjusting sway resistance provided by the front and rear stabilizer bars, standard Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) can help reduce maximum body-lean angle by as much as 50 percent to help enhance both on-road handling response and off-highway capability.  Trailer sway control is also added for 2014.

New Lexus Concept to appear at frankfurt

This year’s Frankfurt motor show will host the world debut of a new Lexus concept vehicle.

The new concept will be joined by the new full hybrid GS 300h saloon, presented for the first time in Europe ahead of its introduction here towards the end of the year. Competing at the heart of the executive car market, the GS 300h combines low emissions and high fuel efficiency with refined, comfortable performance and low ownership costs.

Lexus will hold a press conference on its stand in Hall 8 at the show, at 1pm on Tuesday, 10 September. This will include a special appearance by the classical dance stars featured in its recent Steps marketing campaign.