After losing top luxury position, Lexus says ‘best quality cars’ still main focus
Production slumps due to the current situation in Japan have become common place in the auto-industry, and market positions are sure to suffer as a result. Lexus, which has been the top selling luxury automaker in the US for the past 11 years, expecting to lose a share of the market as a result of the disruptions.
The company has fallen behind Mercedes and BMW in the first quarter, as it experienced a 4% sales slump for that period.
“I’ve told people for the 11 years that we have been No. 1 that it’s not what we set out to do,” Lexus general manager Mark Templin told The Detroit News after an event to unveil a concept Lexus hybrid – the LF-Gh. “It’s not what we’re about now. We’re all about the best quality cars.”
One area that Templin feels extremely confident in is fuel-efficiency. While other automakers are going to have to alter their designs to meet 2016 US fuel-efficiency standards, he says Lexus won’t; a surefire example of the benefits Lexus derives from its status as a division of Toyota.
– By: Stephen Calogera
Source: Detroit News
