15
September
2015
|
07:00
Europe/Amsterdam

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.