Its funny that its taken Toyota having one of their worst years EVER for their rivals to start to catch up. Could Lexus lose the #1 spot? Possibly, but whats to say that they wont retake the spot back next year or that BMW will have a bunch of recalls too. The way the NHTSA is being so aggressive with recalls, no automaker is safe from the potential for a huge recall.
BMW jostling Lexus for top spot is U.S. luxury market
http://www.leftlanenews.com/bmw-jostling-lexus-for-top-spot-is-u-s-luxury-market.html
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100902/RETAIL01/100909969/1448Lexus has long been America’s favorite luxury brand, but that could change by the end of the year as BMW continues to see strong U.S. sales. BMW’s U.S. sales increased 1.6 percent in August, marking the brand’s third straight month atop the luxury charts.
Thanks to strong sales of its 1-Series and 7-Series models, BMW’s U.S. sales increased 1.6 percent in August, totaling 19,540 units. Lexus, on the other hand, saw its sales slide 15 percent during the month, resulting in 19,465 units sold.
The luxury market will likely cool for the remainder of the year, but BMW is confident it can keep its current momentum rolling. “We are seeing a slowdown in the market and do not expect the second half of the year to be as strong as the first half,” Jim O’Donnell, BMW of North America president, said in a statement. “Despite this, building momentum throughout the year and narrowing the gap with our competitors is still our plan.”
Lexus remains the best-selling luxury brand in the United States – with 145,490 sales so far this year – but BMW is quickly closing the gap with total sales of 139,236. Mercedes-Benz has tallied 144,753 sales so far this year, but that figure is a bit misleading as it includes sales of its mostly fleet Sprinter van.
Will BMW overtake Lexus this year? Lexus has a strong product in the RX, and the ES, GS, IS, and LS seem to be holding for now, but BMW has been getting more aggressive with its incentives (0.9% financing, etc.), and with the recall, Lexus' title of #1 selling luxury brand is in jeopardy.BMW AG's namesake brand increased U.S. sales 1.6 percent in August and beat Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus nameplate as the top U.S. luxury brand for the third straight month.
BMW sales rose to 19,540 as deliveries of its 1 Series gained 53 percent and the 7 Series climbed 42 percent. Lexus deliveries decreased 15 percent to 19,465.
“We are seeing a slowdown in the market and do not expect the second half of the year to be as strong as the first half,” Jim O'Donnell, BMW of North America president, said in a statement. “Despite this, building momentum throughout the year and narrowing the gap with our competitors is still our plan.”
Lexus was one of the few luxury brands to post a sales decline in an overall U.S. market that dropped 21 percent last month. Most of those brands had fallen in August of 2009, when the U.S. cash-for-clunkers incentives spurred sales of small, fuel-efficient cars.
Lexus had record recalls in the past year, including of its LS 460 cars and GX 460 SUVs, and is facing competition from revamped models by BMW and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz. BMW, which beat Lexus in June and July, has set a goal of becoming the best-selling U.S. luxury brand by 2012.
“The new product is just so important for the entire market but especially for the luxury segment where it is much more discerning between old versus new,” said Jessica Caldwell, senior analyst with Edmunds.com, a Santa Monica, Calif.- based provider of industry data.
Mercedes sales increased 15 percent to 19,682 vehicles. The gain was helped by the revamped E-Class, which rose 26 percent for the month and has gained 71 percent for the year through August.
Lexus remains the U.S. luxury sales leader for the year, with 145,490 deliveries through August, an 11 percent increase. Mercedes sales, including Sprinter vans, have gained 22 percent to 144,753, and BMW's U.S. sales increased 7.8 percent to 139,236 vehicles.
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^^They investigate only Toyota. Come on now:lol::lol::lol::facepalm:
Well good for BMW. BMW is becoming more like Lexus so its no wonder sales are going up. Okay BMW isn't as boring but they are trying to fill every made up niche' with the pointless CUVs or whatever. The fast back CUVs that aren't as practical as they should be, no off road credibility. Not that it matters.
Oh well. More competition the better.
Well good for BMW. BMW is becoming more like Lexus so its no wonder sales are going up. Okay BMW isn't as boring but they are trying to fill every made up niche' with the pointless CUVs or whatever. The fast back CUVs that aren't as practical as they should be, no off road credibility. Not that it matters.
Oh well. More competition the better.
I would love to have a BMW 335 turbo diesel with 2 turbos & 425 lb/ft of torque. 
Plus it get 35 mpg on the highway! :naughty:
Plus it get 35 mpg on the highway! :naughty:
^ It's more like in the high 30s, low 40s mpg. One of two BMWs I would ever consider buying a BMW. The 335id and a M3 sedan.
Far me it for me to imply there is some sort of conspiracy going on.^^They investigate only Toyota. Come on now:lol::lol::lol::facepalm:
Well good for BMW. BMW is becoming more like Lexus so its no wonder sales are going up. Okay BMW isn't as boring but they are trying to fill every made up niche' with the pointless CUVs or whatever. The fast back CUVs that aren't as practical as they should be, no off road credibility. Not that it matters.
Oh well. More competition the better.
Far me it?Far me it for me to imply there is some sort of conspiracy going on.
Lexus will hopefully hold on but if they don't they will be back next year to take back the title.
Well, the Lexus cars are getting old for the most part. The CT is the next new model for them, and hopefully, it'll be a better seller than the HS, which has been a disappointment to say the least. The RX is the sales champ, and the ES has the Buick Lacrosse to battle for sales now. The sooner a new IS and GS arrive, Lexus might lose a few more sales year to year.Lexus will hopefully hold on but if they don't they will be back next year to take back the title.
I would love to have a BMW 335 turbo diesel with 2 turbos & 425 lb/ft of torque.
For sure! one a daily driver and the other for fun weekends. Although I would take the M3 coupe
To me, BMW's are nothing special. I've never driven one, but have ridden in the passenger seat in many. They actually feel kind of cheap in terms of materials. Although I wouldn't mind having an M3, or a 7 series sedan, but that's about it. 3 series are overpriced for what they are. They don't even come standard with leather on the 328i. Just leatherette :thumbsdow
Maybe I'm missing the fun to drive part. Guess I'll have to find out for myself.
But as ECHOKnight2000 said, the more competition the better. So yay for that I guess.
Maybe I'm missing the fun to drive part. Guess I'll have to find out for myself.
But as ECHOKnight2000 said, the more competition the better. So yay for that I guess.
Our 330i has a high quality interior, but I agree with you. They're overpriced, overrated turds that fail once the warranty goes out. All European cars are severely overrated IMO and the Japanese luxury brands give you a better car for the dollar. Our BMW didn't even come standard with floormats! And doesn't even have LED tail lights our "lowly" Camry has. I could care less that the snobbish reviewers say that it doesn't handle like a 3-series (which is absolutely NOTHING special), the IS is such a better car.To me, BMW's are nothing special. I've never driven one, but have ridden in the passenger seat in many. They actually feel kind of cheap in terms of materials. Although I wouldn't mind having an M3, or a 7 series sedan, but that's about it. 3 series are overpriced for what they are. They don't even come standard with leather on the 328i. Just leatherette :thumbsdow
Maybe I'm missing the fun to drive part. Guess I'll have to find out for myself.
But as ECHOKnight2000 said, the more competition the better. So yay for that I guess.
I do agree that the Japanese luxury makers give you more for your money than the Europeans (Building a BMW is fun, but even little things that should be standard like Bluetooth can be expensive options). But then, when the Yen was stronger, it definitely helped the Japanese priced their cars a lot lower. While justified or not, they defined what American luxury buyers wanted before Lexus came around and redefined it.Our 330i has a high quality interior, but I agree with you. They're overpriced, overrated turds that fail once the warranty goes out. All European cars are severely overrated IMO and the Japanese luxury brands give you a better car for the dollar.
LEDs were standard on the Camry Hybrids first, but have now become standard on the rest of the line for MY 10 on. I'm not quite sure, but the recent LCI on the 3-Series included LED tails as well. The Accord on the other hand, got LEDs for 06 until 07 when the model change over, and went back to bulbs in 2008. :facepalm:Our BMW didn't even come standard with floormats! And doesn't even have LED tail lights our "lowly" Camry has. I could care less that the snobbish reviewers say that it doesn't handle like a 3-series (which is absolutely NOTHING special), the IS is such a better car. Our BMW didn't even come standard with floormats! And doesn't even have LED tail lights our "lowly" Camry has. I could care less that the snobbish reviewers say that it doesn't handle like a 3-series (which is absolutely NOTHING special), the IS is such a better car.
Personally, I wouldn't knock the 3 Series at all. It is the car that the IS still chases everyday. While the IS is a great substitute for the 3 Series (as is much of the entry level luxo competition), the 3-Series is probably the best balanced entry level luxury sedan on the market, and it sells a lot based on reputation (a la Camry and Corolla).
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