In an unsurprising decision, Lexus announced that will stop selling Lexus CT, IS and RC in Europe to focus on selling the models that continue to break records: the SUV.
Speaking to Automotive News Europe, a spokesman for the Japanese brand revealed that when stocks of the three models in Europe reach the end they will be withdrawn from the market in the “Old Continent”.
About this decision, the same spokesperson stated that it is based on the evolution of the brand's portfolio and added: "if we look at Lexus sales in Europe and in the markets in general, the evolution is in the way of the SUV".
Falling sales justify the decision
A quick look at Lexus sales in Europe is enough to quickly understand this decision. According to JATO Dynamics, in the first eight months of 2020, the Lexus UX was the best seller of the brand, having accumulated 10 291 units sold.
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Behind this in second and third places, there are two more SUVs: the NX with 7739 units and the RX with 3474 units sold.
Lexus UX.
As for the numbers of the three models it wants to say goodbye, Lexus saw CT sales drop 35% to 2,344 units; the IS stands at 1101 units sold and the RC does not go beyond 422 units. Even so, the Japanese brand intends to continue to market the sportiest Lexus RC F around here.
standard bearer is to keep
Also with few sales but with a guaranteed place in the European range of Lexus comes its top of the range, the LS. In total, the most luxurious of the Lexus saw only 58 units sold in the first eight months of the year, however, the Japanese brand does not plan to give it up.
By the way, if you remember, the Lexus flagship was recently renovated and even received the Lexus Teammate artificial intelligence driving assistance system (semi-autonomous driving).
Also with a guaranteed future in Europe is the Lexus ES whose sales rose 3% in the first eight months of 2020, reaching 2,346 units.
hybrids dominate
In total, in the first half of 2020 hybrids accounted for 96% of Lexus sales in Europe.
As for global sales in Europe in the first eight months of the year, JATO Dynamics points out that much thanks to the demand for UX, Lexus saw sales drop just 21% compared to the 33% the market fell due to the effects of the pandemic.
Source: Automotive News Europe.