LEXUS INTERNATIONAL MID-YEAR 2016 REPORT
Lexus International today announced it sold 319,275 vehicles in the first half of 2016, a 5% increase from the same period the last year, propelled by strong global demand for the new LX and the freshly-revised RX luxury utility vehicles, and for the midsize ES sedan during its first year of production at a new Lexus assembly plant in Kentucky USA.
Tokyo, Japan - Continuing growth in China (including Hong Kong) of 26% to 46,759 vehicles; and 16% across Europe and Russia to 36,405 vehicles, 26% in Japan to 28,420 vehicles; and 19% in East Asia and 37percent in the Latin America markets supported the global expansion of the Lexus brand.
Weakening demand for large premium sedans contributed to a decline of 4% across North America to sales of 162,493, and a soft luxury vehicle market across the Middle East markets led to a drop of 1% to 22,484 sales in those countries.
Lexus International executive vice president Yoshihiro Sawa said, “Our designers and engineers have been working to further enhance the styling, performance and emotion of our already well-respected products, and I’m grateful that people are noticing – and appreciating – a new experience with our brand. The bold styling of our newest luxury utility vehicles, the LX and RX, has been particularly well-received.”
BRAND INITIATIVES
Lexus has continued its ten-year presence at the world’s largest design event, the Salone del Mobile di Milano (Milan Design Week). The Lexus Design Award is an annual collaboration with world-renowned designers that encourages up and coming designers to create unique installations that express luxury in unique interpretations of design.
Lexus continues to support and nurture a new generation of emerging filmmakers around the world by producing Lexus Short Films in partnership with The Weinstein Company. For the third season the theme of “Anticipation” was selected as a provocative thought-starter providing an innovative platform for filmmakers’ imaginations. Director submissions were received from the worldwide filmmaking community, with four filmmakers being invited to interpret the meaning for their own narrative and tell a story based around their vision.
The INTERSECT BY LEXUS luxury culture and cuisine brand experience space and design gallery in Tokyo is celebrating its third anniversary this summer. A second INTERSECT BY LEXUS gallery opened in Dubai UAE at the end of last year for guests to enjoy Lexus experiences outside of their cars, and a third Intersect By Lexus gallery is expected to open in New York in mid-2017.
Lexus is racing the RC coupe in Japan’s Super GT500 series and in the German VLN endurance racing series at the famous Nürburgring circuit. In North America, Lexus USA is developing a GT3 spec RC F to enter in the IMSA GTD series of pro sports car racing next year.
PRODUCT NEWS
The Lexus line-up of hybrid models expanded in 2016 to offer a range of ten different high-efficiency, low-emission, luxury vehicles in markets throughout the world:
1. CT 200h
2. HS 250h (Japan only)
3. ES 300h
4. IS 300h
5. RC 300h
6. GS 300h
7. GS 450h
8. LS 600h
9. NX 300h
10. RX 450h
2016 saw the release of two limited-production, high-style, high-performance cars, the RC F sport coupe and the GS F sport sedan. They share a unique 5.0 litre V8 engine with advanced double-overhead cam (DOHC) cylinder heads incorporating Dual Variable Valve Timing-intelligence, Wide range (VVT iW).
Lexus also introduced a new 2.0 litre turbocharged engine in the NX, RX, RC and GS models and replacing the previous 2.5 litre V6 engine in the IS line. This all-new double-overhead cam (DOHC) and Dual Variable Valve Timing-intelligence, Wide range (VVT iW) four-cylinder engine is designed around an proprietary twin-scroll turbocharger integrated into the exhaust manifold.
AWARDS
At the North American International Auto Show, the LC earned two “Eyes on Design” awards for Best Production Design and Best Interior Design.
Lexus was recognized as the Best Brand in Kelley Blue Book’s 2016 Best Resale Value Awards for the fifth consecutive year.
A separate study of residual value by online automotive data collector Edmunds.com identified a number of Lexus models as retaining high relative value in their classes: IS, ES, GX, LS and LX.
In the UK, the annual Autocar Awards recognized the Lexus IS with the coveted Autocar Used Car of the Year 2016 award.
Lexus has also dominated the Auto Express 2016 Driver Power Survey, with three Lexus models topping their categories for the UK’s most reliable used cars: IS, RX and GS. #