Would a Lexus Pickup Make Sense for the U.S.?
08-22-18, 08:20 AM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
Toyota also has a massive commercial division worldwide. Very easy for their Lexus division to sell a truck.
08-22-18, 08:28 AM
#32
Lexus Fanatic
You can absolutely buy a Metris or a AMG GT from the same showroom at the same dealer. Sometimes the Metris is sitting side by side to a $200K Mercedes. All are sold by the same salespersons. Some dealer however split the Mercedes Vans and cars into separate locations.
BTW, thats the same way at Ford dealers or GM dealers etc that sell commercial trucks. They have a dedicated staff that does that. They don't put Transits and Transit Connects in the showrooms, etc.
Toyota also has a massive commercial division worldwide. Very easy for their Lexus division to sell a truck.
Why would they want to sell a Lexus commercial truck?!?
And the fact that Mercedes has a pickup and they DON'T sell it here proves they see no market for it here.
08-22-18, 08:47 AM
#33
Lexus Fanatic
I'm sure it depends on the dealer, but none of the Mercedes dealers are like that here. The commercial vehicles aren't displayed in front, they have a Sprinter side or something like that. Sure a particular salesperson can sell anything, but they typically don't. New MB sells new MB, used MB sells used MB, Sprinter/Metris sells Sprinter/Metris. The guy I dealt with wore a Sprinter Polo and had nothing to do with MB cars. They do a lot of fleet sales/etc its a very different job working in B2B sales vs retail sales like most car salespeople.
BTW, thats the same way at Ford dealers or GM dealers etc that sell commercial trucks. They have a dedicated staff that does that. They don't put Transits and Transit Connects in the showrooms, etc.
But why would they want to? Toyota sells commercial vehicles through Toyota...Mercedes sells them through Mercedes because thats all they have. Toyota does it through Toyota.
Why would they want to sell a Lexus commercial truck?!?
And the fact that Mercedes has a pickup and they DON'T sell it here proves they see no market for it here.
BTW, thats the same way at Ford dealers or GM dealers etc that sell commercial trucks. They have a dedicated staff that does that. They don't put Transits and Transit Connects in the showrooms, etc.
But why would they want to? Toyota sells commercial vehicles through Toyota...Mercedes sells them through Mercedes because thats all they have. Toyota does it through Toyota.
Why would they want to sell a Lexus commercial truck?!?
And the fact that Mercedes has a pickup and they DON'T sell it here proves they see no market for it here.
08-22-18, 08:53 AM
#34
Lexus Fanatic
I'm sure it depends on the dealer, but none of the Mercedes dealers are like that here. The commercial vehicles aren't displayed in front, they have a Sprinter side or something like that. Sure a particular salesperson can sell anything, but they typically don't. New MB sells new MB, used MB sells used MB, Sprinter/Metris sells Sprinter/Metris. The guy I dealt with wore a Sprinter Polo and had nothing to do with MB cars. They do a lot of fleet sales/etc its a very different job working in B2B sales vs retail sales like most car salespeople.
.
.
08-22-18, 08:58 AM
#36
Lexus Fanatic
Theres no big issue, thats just not how dealerships here in my area do it.
As for you not saying would Lexus sell a commercial truck...I don't understand your point. You brought the Sprinter and Metris into this discussion, they aren't pickups and they aren't vehicles designed for widespread consumer use, they are commercial vans overwhelmingly sold to businesses and companies. The fact that Mercedes sells commercial vans has nothing to do with whether or not Lexus could sell a consumer pickup to consumers...
As for you not saying would Lexus sell a commercial truck...I don't understand your point. You brought the Sprinter and Metris into this discussion, they aren't pickups and they aren't vehicles designed for widespread consumer use, they are commercial vans overwhelmingly sold to businesses and companies. The fact that Mercedes sells commercial vans has nothing to do with whether or not Lexus could sell a consumer pickup to consumers...
08-22-18, 09:06 AM
#37
Lexus Fanatic
Theres no big issue, thats just not how dealerships here in my area do it.
As for you not saying would Lexus sell a commercial truck...I don't understand your point. You brought the Sprinter and Metris into this discussion, they aren't pickups and they aren't vehicles designed for widespread consumer use, they are commercial vans overwhelmingly sold to businesses and companies. The fact that Mercedes sells commercial vans has nothing to do with whether or not Lexus could sell a consumer pickup to consumers...
As for you not saying would Lexus sell a commercial truck...I don't understand your point. You brought the Sprinter and Metris into this discussion, they aren't pickups and they aren't vehicles designed for widespread consumer use, they are commercial vans overwhelmingly sold to businesses and companies. The fact that Mercedes sells commercial vans has nothing to do with whether or not Lexus could sell a consumer pickup to consumers...
08-22-18, 09:21 AM
#38
Lexus Fanatic
You said that Mercedes-Benz does not sell the Metris or Sprinter out of the same showroom or area of the dealer. This is not the case. So if MB could sell a Metris or Sprinter at the same dealer, then Lexus could sell a Lexus truck out of their dealers. Not every Lexus buyer is going to be the same demographic as a MB buyer and vice versa
I'm sure it depends on the dealer, but none of the Mercedes dealers are like that here. The commercial vehicles aren't displayed in front, they have a Sprinter side or something like that. Sure a particular salesperson can sell anything, but they typically don't. New MB sells new MB, used MB sells used MB, Sprinter/Metris sells Sprinter/Metris. The guy I dealt with wore a Sprinter Polo and had nothing to do with MB cars. They do a lot of fleet sales/etc its a very different job working in B2B sales vs retail sales like most car salespeople.
And your logic doesn't make sense. If Mercedes were selling a pickup truck to consumers your logic would make sense. Saying that because Mercedes can sell non luxury commercial vehicles to business clients then Lexus could sell a luxury pickup to consumers makes no sense. Its like saying Apple can sell speakers to consumers because Microsoft can sell keyboards to schools. Nonsensical.
08-22-18, 09:28 AM
#39
Lexus Fanatic
No, thats not what I said at all. This is what I said:
Emphasis added to make it clearer for you.
And your logic doesn't make sense. If Mercedes were selling a pickup truck to consumers your logic would make sense. Saying that because Mercedes can sell non luxury commercial vehicles to business clients then Lexus could sell a luxury pickup to consumers makes no sense. Its like saying Apple can sell speakers to consumers because Microsoft can sell keyboards to schools. Nonsensical.
Emphasis added to make it clearer for you.
And your logic doesn't make sense. If Mercedes were selling a pickup truck to consumers your logic would make sense. Saying that because Mercedes can sell non luxury commercial vehicles to business clients then Lexus could sell a luxury pickup to consumers makes no sense. Its like saying Apple can sell speakers to consumers because Microsoft can sell keyboards to schools. Nonsensical.
I have, in fact to look at a Metras to buy.
Its an entirely different consumer. The Sprinter and Metras don’t sell to a luxury car consumer, they are commercial vehicles and the odd unusual huge family that might look at a Sprinter. They aren’t even held in the same showroom/area of the dealer.
Mercedes has a huge commercial division that we rarely see in the US, that’s where those vehicles come from. We’re not talking about a Lexus commercial pickup here.
08-22-18, 09:30 AM
#40
Lexus Fanatic
08-22-18, 09:31 AM
#41
Lexus Fanatic
08-22-18, 09:38 AM
#42
Lexus Fanatic
Lets put it this way, when Lexus makes a pickup call me...I'll buy you one.
08-22-18, 09:39 AM
#43
Lexus Fanatic
08-22-18, 09:51 AM
#44
Lexus Fanatic
08-22-18, 09:54 AM
#45
Lexus Fanatic
It costs a manufacturer a lot to make those sorts of changes. You need a whole front clip, you need a whole new interior, dashboard, seats, trim, displays, you need new wheels, new paint colors and exterior trim. You need to design all of that, test it, implement it and manufacture it. The LX is sold all over the world, not just 5-10k units in the US. They sell a ton of them in the Middle East.