thetopdog

Are there any kind of heavy import taxes or anything else to stop people like me from driving/shipping cars down there and selling them for profit? There must be something in place or else I think more people would be doing it (maybe a lot of people are already doing that, I just haven't heard about them)

Lexmex

Officially these kinds of heavy taxes exist and legally only certain pickups 1992 and older are allowed in with a nominal tax. However, in general one can import anything but depending on the year and value (they use the blue book), one can bring something in. I some friends who specialize in importing high performance sports cars and other exotics, but their clientele of course has the $$$. Unofficially, if one is looking to bring something in like an old minivan, car, etc. there are ways this can be worked with customs officials...I won't go into any more detail.

Now, plenty of people do attempt to drive their vehicles past customs stations that exist several km south of the border where you either must have Mexican plates, temporary importation sticker (as in the case of my RX300) or a permit of nationalization. However, the enforcement can be lax at times and people bring stuff in.

I recently bought a 1970 Karmann Ghia in Florida and all I need is for someone to go up to the border and bring it in. I think the registration fee was very small according to my uncle. Such a vehicle will bring in easily several thousand dollars (except it will be a gift to my uncle).

Lexmex

This is the list that Toyota keeps for worldwide sites,

http://www.toyota.co.jp/worldwide/toyota/index.html

and for Lexus,

http://www.toyota.co.jp/worldwide/lexus/index.html

Keep in mind that often, Lexus vehicles will be sold at Toyota dealerships. As I understand at the moment, when Lexus comes to Mexico, they will be sold at the Toyota dealers just like the remaining Infiniti Q45 is sold at Nissan dealers. I would hope they change this and work like Acura does down here with separate dealerships.

encore888

Maybe they could start small like Lexus Malaysia where it's one large dealership in Kuala Lumpur...

What cities do you think would warrant high enough demand for a Lexus dealership in Mexico? I'm not very familiar with the demographics, but of course Mexico City, perhaps some of resort areas/retirement areas?

sk72

Do you have any idea if I can ship my IS250 to Malaysia and have them do a swap from left hand drive to right hand drive? I heard from a resource that somebody did this with his Bmmer which he had in overseas..

Not sure if they will be introducing the ES350.. because the Camry as it is looks great and I believe the 07' Camry in Msia is designed slightly different as well from others when I saw it on the road last Nov during my month vacation.. the body style looks a lot better.. esp the rear.. it looks even closer to the ES350.. see link here http://www.toyota.com.my/

Looks like they have an idea of bringing in the IS's... sweet

Lexmex

Well, first all Japanese car makers have an issue with a quota the Mexican goverment place. So Toyota will have to deal with that first

As far as cities,

Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Acura has 2 dealers in Mexico City for instance, one right in my neighborhood in hills just centrally west of the city and one in the southwest, both in what I would consider affluent areas frequented by other luxury makers such as Mercedes and BMW. Incidentally, there are two Toyota dealers parked not to far away from each of these Acura dealers.

For Lexus, I would likely position a dealer in Satelite in the north, Interlomas (where I live and where one of the Acura dealers is) in the center west and Perisur in the south (where the other Acura dealer is). For Monterrey and Guadalajra, would likely put one in Monterrey in San Nicholas de la Garza and for Guadalajara in Zapopan.

You listening to this to Lexus, too?

sk72

Camry Pics in Malaysia

sk72

BMW 525i Sports
Specifications.
Technical Data
Cylinder
L6-Cylinder
Displacement (cc) 2497
Max power (bhp @ rpm) 218 @ 6500
Max torque (Nm @ rpm) 250 @ 2750
Petrol
6-Speed automatic transmission with Steptronic
Acceleration 0 - 100km/h (s)7.9
Top speed (km/h) 242
Fuel consumption (ltr/100km) 9.4
Sheer Driving Pleasure
Active Front Steering
Armrest, front
Automatic air conditioning
with extended features
CD changer for 6 CDs
Climate comfort laminated glass
Cruise control
Cupholders
Emergency spare wheel (135/80 R17)
Extended lights package
Floor mats in velour
Hot climate version
Interior rear-view mirror
with automatic anti-dazzle function
Individual headliner Anthracite
Interior trim finishers
Aluminium Cube pure
Leather Dakota
M Light alloy wheels Double Spoke 135M
with run-flat tyres (245/40 R18)
M Aerodynamics package
Metallic paint
M Leather steering wheel
M Sports package
M Sports suspension
M Rear spoiler
Park Distance Control (PDC), front and rear
Satin Chrome Black finishing
Seat adjustment, electric,
with memory for driverÕs seat
Side airbags for rear passengers
SmokerÕs package
Speedometer with kilometer reading
Sports seats for driver and front passenger
Sunblinds for rear window, electric
rear side windows, mechanical
Universal Bluetooth mobile phone preparation
Warning triangle and first-aid kit
Xenon lights for low-beam and
high-beam headlights

Nett Selling Price RM 396,773.00
Registration Fees & HP Endorsement RM 350.00
Road Tax RM 877.00
OTR Retail Price without Insurance RM 398,000.00

USD 113,068.**

Actual car specifications may vary from picture shown above.
OTR price quoted effective 5 January 2007.

This exclusive service is included in any new BMW you acquire and is designed so that you can forget about the cost of servicing, maintenance or wear-and-tear of your BMW for the next 3 years or 60,000 km*, whichever comes first.

sk72

S Class

S350L S Fully Imported
Base Price = RM938,888 Total Options: RM0
Off The Road Price: RM938,888 (USD 266,729) Monthly Payment: RM15,985 (USD 4,541)

S350L SE Fully Imported
Base Price = RM978,888 (USD 278,093) Total Options: RM0
Off The Road Price: RM978,888 Monthly Payment: RM16,666 (USD 4,734)

S350L SEL Fully Imported
Base Price = RM1,048,888 (USD 297,979) Total Options: RM0
Off The Road Price: RM1,048,888 Monthly Payment: RM17,857 (USD 5,073)

S500L Fully Imported
Base Price = RM1,488,888 (USD 422,979) Total Options: RM0
Off The Road Price: RM1,488,888 Monthly Payment: RM25,348 (USD 7,201)

E-Class

E280 Avantgarde Locally Assembled
Base Price = RM418,888 (USD 119,002) Total Options: RM0
Off The Road Price: RM418,888 Monthly Payment: RM7,132 (USD2,026)

C - Class

C230 Avantgarde Locally Assembled
Base Price = RM268,888 (USD 76,388) Total Options: RM0
Off The Road Price: RM268,888 Monthly Payment: RM4,578 (USD 1,300)

CLS 350 Fully Imported
Base Price = RM738,888 (USD 209,911) Total Options: RM0
Off The Road Price: RM738,888 Monthly Payment: RM12,580 (USD 3,573)

CLS 55 AMG Fully Imported
Base Price = RM1,388,888 (USD 394,570)Total Options: RM0
Off The Road Price: RM1,388,888 Monthly Payment: RM23,646 (USD 6,717)

encore888

Interesting, sounds good. Now we just need to get a market forecast out to Lexus and start the partnership.

But if Mercedes and Acura can do it, I think Lexus stands a chance.

GS69

Lexus Sells 1,000 Units in Malaysia

Lexus Malaysia has sold 1,000 units of Lexus model cars since their launch at end-2006.

"This is a big achievement for the Lexus brand as it has been around in the country for just 3 years and operating from only 1 showroom till early this year," said president Kuah Kok Heng in a statement today.

The company has reached more than 70% of its 400 units sales target this year.

It is also positive with its plans for the rest of the year as well.

"With the opening of Lexus 3S centre in Penang earlier this year and at a later stage in Johor, we can achieve our sales target, hence grow our market share in the premium market segment," he said.

The company is a division of UMW Toyota Motor. -- Bernama

LexFather

That is great news thanks for sharing it.

GS69

Lexus Revises Sales Target Upwards

Left to right: Lexus Malaysia Sdn Bhd deputy chairman Takashi Hibi, president Kuah Kock Heng, chairman Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin and director Harry Loo at the launch of the Lexus RX270 on Tuesday

PETALING JAYA: Lexus Malaysia Sdn Bhd has revised upwards its sales target for 2010 to 410 vehicles from 400 units earlier due to better-than-expected sales for its models.

Last month, Lexus president Kuah Kock Heng was quoted in a local news report as saying that the company was confident of achieving its sales target of 400 units for this year.

“We will exceed that target (of 400 units) and plan to sell 410 units this year,” he said at the launch of the Lexus RX270 sports utility vehicle (SUV) yesterday.

As at end-September, the company had already sold 338 units, with its RX350 SUV being its best seller. Since starting operations in early 2007, Lexus Malaysia has sold 1,048 Lexus vehicles to date.

“The RX350 contributes about nearly half of our total sales,” he said.

According to Lexus Malaysia director Harry Loo, the RX350 is the leader in the large SUV segment currently with a 33% share.

Kuah, meanwhile, said the company was targeting to sell 140 units of the newly launched RX270 a year. He said the vehicle, a variant of the RX350, had a lower engine capacity and was more affordable (than the RX350).

Kuah added that Lexus Malaysia had already received 10 bookings for the RX270. Loo, in a presentation, said the RX270 had better fuel economy of 10.2km per litre versus the RX350’s 9.4km per litre.

The RX270 and RX350 start from RM340,000 and RM377,000 respectively.

Kuah also said Lexus Malaysia would be launching its hybrid SUV, the RX450h at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2010 in December.

On another note, Kuah, who is also UMW Toyota Sdn Bhd president, said the company would be announcing the new (lower) retail price of its Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle today (Oct 27).

The Toyota Prius currently costs RM175,000. Under Budget 2011, the Government will grant full excise duty exemptions on hybrid cars from next year to encourage more of such cars to be sold in Malaysia. - AP

LexFather

RX is a beast!