Lexus Europe sees 2005 sales at around 30,000 cars
04-20-05, 10:13 AM
#1
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Lexus Europe sees 2005 sales at around 30,000 cars
Lexus Europe sees 2005 sales at around 30,000 cars
Reuters / April 20, 2005
FRANKFURT -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s premium brand Lexus expects to boost sales in Europe to a new record at around 30,000 vehicles this year, despite a weak first quarter, the company said in an interview with Reuters.
"We'll start catching up in April and expect to sell 29,000-30,000 cars this year," Lexus Europe Vice President Karl Schlicht said.
A big portion of the boost will come from the European relaunch of the GS sedan this month, which Schlicht said will contribute sales of 4,000 to 5,000 this year after just 747 in 2004.
The carmaker will also roll out its RX 400h hybrid SUV and the IS mid-sized car later this year, apart from the GS.
"By 2010 we want to sell 65,000 cars," he added, citing expected strong demand for its upcoming diesel IS and continued investments in expanding and improving its dealership network.
"We have around 250 dealerships in Europe right now and we want to bump that up to 350 by 2010," Schlicht said.
When asked when Lexus Europe would make a profit, he replied: "Who's to say we're not profitable already?" Schlicht declined to be more specific.
On Friday, parent Toyota said Lexus sales in Europe sank 14 percent to 5,739 units in the first quarter.
The brand improved European sales last year by 15 percent to a new all-time high of 24,913 vehicles thanks largely to a 50 percent gain in sales of the RX 300 SUV.
Nevertheless, Lexus Europe has been unable to attain the same success as in the United States, where the 16 year-old marque quickly assumed the lead in the market despite tough competition from hallowed German luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Last year was the fifth in a row that Lexus has been the best selling premium brand in the world's largest car market.
Reuters / April 20, 2005
FRANKFURT -- Toyota Motor Corp.'s premium brand Lexus expects to boost sales in Europe to a new record at around 30,000 vehicles this year, despite a weak first quarter, the company said in an interview with Reuters.
"We'll start catching up in April and expect to sell 29,000-30,000 cars this year," Lexus Europe Vice President Karl Schlicht said.
A big portion of the boost will come from the European relaunch of the GS sedan this month, which Schlicht said will contribute sales of 4,000 to 5,000 this year after just 747 in 2004.
The carmaker will also roll out its RX 400h hybrid SUV and the IS mid-sized car later this year, apart from the GS.
"By 2010 we want to sell 65,000 cars," he added, citing expected strong demand for its upcoming diesel IS and continued investments in expanding and improving its dealership network.
"We have around 250 dealerships in Europe right now and we want to bump that up to 350 by 2010," Schlicht said.
When asked when Lexus Europe would make a profit, he replied: "Who's to say we're not profitable already?" Schlicht declined to be more specific.
On Friday, parent Toyota said Lexus sales in Europe sank 14 percent to 5,739 units in the first quarter.
The brand improved European sales last year by 15 percent to a new all-time high of 24,913 vehicles thanks largely to a 50 percent gain in sales of the RX 300 SUV.
Nevertheless, Lexus Europe has been unable to attain the same success as in the United States, where the 16 year-old marque quickly assumed the lead in the market despite tough competition from hallowed German luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
Last year was the fifth in a row that Lexus has been the best selling premium brand in the world's largest car market.
04-21-05, 08:05 AM
#3
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Originally Posted by Richie
The European press have not been totally impressed by the new GS.
I hope they will make it to 30k this year.
I hope they will make it to 30k this year.
Lexus is learning, the diesal will be big there. They also are getting the hybrids.
04-21-05, 12:55 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Originally Posted by 1SICKLEX
Yeah, the Euro market is a tough cookie to crack. But Lexus is not bad on pace to 50k units. Nissan as a whole sells 50k units in Europe. So for a luxury brand that is pretty awesome.
Lexus is learning, the diesal will be big there. They also are getting the hybrids.
Lexus is learning, the diesal will be big there. They also are getting the hybrids.
But up to this moment the marketing of Lexus cars in Holland has been lacking big time imo.
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