Lexus press conference frankfurt motor show 2015
Alain Uyttenhoven, Head of Lexus Europe
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Lexus!
We have some exciting product news for you today, but let me start by a quick update on our current
sales momentum.
2015 has been a tremendous year so far for Lexus. In Europe, our growth year to date is 4 times
bigger than the premium car market. And that growth is coming from all across Europe - East and
West. In the West, the demand and desirability for the Lexus brand has never been higher and if we
focus on our 5 largest markets in Western Europe, our year on year sales increase is close to 50%.
This growth rate is 5 times higher than the market. We are equally pleased with our performance in
the East. In Russia, for example, Lexus sales are increasing by 15% this year … in a premium market
decreasing by more than 20%.
This puts us well on track to exceed our European objective of 60,000. Clearly, a new record for
Lexus in the region. Globally, we are also on our way to reach a new best ever sales performance with
about 10% growth vs. 2014. With this, we consolidate our position of first challenger of the German 3.
Not bad for a brand that's just 26 years young!
---
NX has managed to capture the hearts of Luxury consumers across Europe, attracting a younger,
trendier audience to the brand. As a result, well over half the sales of NX are to first time Lexus
customers - and we expect that to continue to grow. In less than a year, we have already delivered
more than 100,000 NX globally. Europe represents a quarter of that volume.
NX has also helped us to enhance and sharpen the image of the Lexus brand. Our collaboration with
will.i.am has played a pivotal role. The latest chapter of that collaboration was an unprecedented
sound and light installation in which we brought a popular musical video game to life. It took an airport
runway to do it but it was a spectacle unlike any other. One that could literally be seen from outer
space.
Like 25 million other people, I guess most of you have followed our Hoverboard story… A levitating
skateboard. Like me, many people dreamed about it…. Lexus made it possible! This is the spirit of
Lexus today… We like to explore, to anticipate and challenge the conventional. And I can promise you
that we are only getting started.
---
All of these activities would be less impactful if we did not have amazing products… and the next
months will be extremely busy on that front.
We will launch no less than 5 models in the next 4 months! Let me start with the restyled GS with even
striking looks, more comfort and our new safety package. We also welcome an new member to our
F family. The GS F, our new performance sedan - the lightest car in its class - and with the
incomparable sound that only a naturally aspirated V8 can deliver. And speaking of good looks, our
next launch is the RC, our brand new coupé, available in Western Europe with two powertrains,
hybrid and 2L turbo. In the East, we will also introduce a refreshed ES.
2015 has been a tremendous year so far for Lexus. In Europe, our growth year to date is 4 times
bigger than the premium car market. And that growth is coming from all across Europe - East and
West. In the West, the demand and desirability for the Lexus brand has never been higher and if we
focus on our 5 largest markets in Western Europe, our year on year sales increase is close to 50%.
This growth rate is 5 times higher than the market. We are equally pleased with our performance in
the East. In Russia, for example, Lexus sales are increasing by 15% this year … in a premium market
decreasing by more than 20%.
This puts us well on track to exceed our European objective of 60,000. Clearly, a new record for
Lexus in the region. Globally, we are also on our way to reach a new best ever sales performance with
about 10% growth vs. 2014. With this, we consolidate our position of first challenger of the German 3.
Not bad for a brand that's just 26 years young!
---
NX has managed to capture the hearts of Luxury consumers across Europe, attracting a younger,
trendier audience to the brand. As a result, well over half the sales of NX are to first time Lexus
customers - and we expect that to continue to grow. In less than a year, we have already delivered
more than 100,000 NX globally. Europe represents a quarter of that volume.
NX has also helped us to enhance and sharpen the image of the Lexus brand. Our collaboration with
will.i.am has played a pivotal role. The latest chapter of that collaboration was an unprecedented
sound and light installation in which we brought a popular musical video game to life. It took an airport
runway to do it but it was a spectacle unlike any other. One that could literally be seen from outer
space.
Like 25 million other people, I guess most of you have followed our Hoverboard story… A levitating
skateboard. Like me, many people dreamed about it…. Lexus made it possible! This is the spirit of
Lexus today… We like to explore, to anticipate and challenge the conventional. And I can promise you
that we are only getting started.
---
All of these activities would be less impactful if we did not have amazing products… and the next
months will be extremely busy on that front.
We will launch no less than 5 models in the next 4 months! Let me start with the restyled GS with even
striking looks, more comfort and our new safety package. We also welcome an new member to our
F family. The GS F, our new performance sedan - the lightest car in its class - and with the
incomparable sound that only a naturally aspirated V8 can deliver. And speaking of good looks, our
next launch is the RC, our brand new coupé, available in Western Europe with two powertrains,
hybrid and 2L turbo. In the East, we will also introduce a refreshed ES.