Mercedes tops BMW to extend U.S. luxury lead 4:04 pm U.S. ET | March 1, 2013 Mercedes-Benz reported a 22 percent surge in U.S. sales last month, building on its early lead as it tries to unseat BMW as the leader in luxury-auto deliveries this year.... Read More »
Crossovers, trucks juice Toyota's Feb. gains 5:20 pm U.S. ET | March 1, 2013 Toyota Motor Sales posted a 4 percent sales gain in February, to 166,377 units, with big gains in crossover and truck sales countering declining volumes for Camry and Prius.... Read More »
Japanese brands continue to dominate Consumer Reports' rankings 12:45 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 26, 2013  Japanese brands, led by Lexus, Subaru and Mazda, continue to dominate Consumer Reports' rankings of the best light vehicles on the market, claiming “top pick” honors in seven out of 10 product segments and capturing the top seven spots for overall brand reliability and performance. The brands that scored best on the magazine's report cards for 2013 were Lexus, with a score of 79 out of 100, followed by Subaru and Mazda, which both scored a 76.... Read More »
Lexus again tops J.D. Power dependability study; Detroit 3 narrow gap 10:00 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2013  Lexus remains the most dependable vehicle brand after three years of ownership but the Detroit 3 continue to close the gap with foreign rivals, J.D. Power and Associates says. Across the industry, owners of three-year-old 2010 cars and light trucks reported 126 problems per 100 vehicles, an all-time low and a 5 percent improvement from 132 problems per 100 on 2009 models a year ago.... Read More »
DOUGLAS A. BOLDUC Toyota hybrids gaining traction in Europe 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2013  Annual sales of Toyota and Lexus hybrids topped 100,000 in Europe for the first time last year. It took the brands 12 years to reach the milestone in Europe, which was seven years longer than it took in the United States.... Read More »
DEALER COUNCIL LEADERS New tech jobs have raised Lexus buyers' satisfaction 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 11, 2013  Two new employee positions established last year for Lexus dealerships are providing big customer service rewards, says the chairman of Lexus' national dealer advisory council.... Read More »
Q&A: JOHN IACONO -- LEXUS NATIONAL DEALER ADVISORY BOARD Lineup strong, inventory shortage over for Lexus dealers 12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013  Lexus dealers have seen inventories return to normal levels after more than a year of recovering from the tsunami that ravaged their inventory supplies. But the damage done to Lexus sales meant the brand has not won the top-selling luxury brand title for two years running. Does Lexus want the title back from BMW and Mercedes-Benz? Could it do it, even if it wanted to?... Read More »
Tony Merritt, CEO of Arizona Lexus dealership, dies at 75 10:05 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6, 2013 Tony Merritt, CEO of Superstition Springs Lexus in Mesa, Ariz., died Jan. 15 in Gold Canyon, Ariz. He was 75.... Read More »
Toyota extends surge into 2013 11:59 am U.S. ET | Feb. 1, 2013  Toyota's sales in the United States jumped 27 percent in January, echoing their increase for all of 2012 and signaling another year of market-share gains.... Read More »
Mercedes takes early U.S. luxury lead after outselling BMW 3:26 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 1, 2013  Mercedes-Benz sales in the United States surged 11 percent in January, getting an early jump on its effort to top BMW in luxury auto sales for the year.... Read More »
2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Automakers set pace on safety advances 12:56 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 16, 2013  As they did with electronic stability control and air bags, automakers are rolling out what they see as the cutting edge of safety technology years before regulators require it or standards are set. Toyota is among automakers finding that safety sells -- if mostly to consumers willing to pay premiums for their most expensive vehicles.... Read More »
2013 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Lexus pitches IS's sports sedan engineering 9:30 am U.S. ET | Jan. 15, 2013  The redesigned 2014 Lexus IS sedan has had its driving dynamics significantly retuned for a sportier feel, even though much of the car, including its exterior styling, is carried over from its previous generation, the automaker said.... Read More »
Lexus concept gives preview of safety gear 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2013  Toyota took the wraps off the highest-tech Lexus LS ever made at the International Consumer Electronics Show here last week. With spinning sensors and probing lasers, the Advanced Safety Research Vehicle is meant to demonstrate safety features that could come to production cars soon.... Read More »
DETROIT AUTO SHOW 2014 Lexus IS sedan gets subtle changes 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 14, 2013  With its evolutionary styling and carryover engines, the 2014 Lexus IS sedan may not be a full-scale redesign. But the IS was last reworked seven years ago, so "redesign" is how Lexus describes the car to be unveiled this week at the Detroit auto show.... Read More »
DAVID PHILLIPS More power, glitz, organic food and smiles 11:59 am U.S. ET | Jan. 11, 2013  Another year, another Detroit auto show and another slew of changes. Automakers are scheduled to showcase about 55 new vehicles, 41 of them global debuts, at the 2013 show that opens with press previews next week. That is up more than 30 percent from the 42 vehicles introduced in 2012, show organizers say.... Read More »
Toyota tries carbon fiber roof in family sedan 10:59 am U.S. ET | Jan. 10, 2013  Toyota is taking another stab at using carbon fiber, following the retirement of the Lexus LFA sports car. This time, it is rolling out a concept sports version of the Japan-market Toyota Mark X sedan with a carbon fiber roof.... Read More »
MARK RECHTIN Lexus IS: Talking 'bout evolution 1:00 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 9, 2013  As modern-era sage Vincent Vega says, “It's the little differences.” So it is with the redesigned 2014 Lexus IS sedans that will debut next week at the Detroit auto show.... Read More »
Toyota's carbon-fiber foray 12:01 am U.S. ET | Jan. 7, 2013  The soaring Japanese yen has killed any hope of launching a variant of the money-losing, carbon-fiber Lexus LFA sports car, at least for now. When the last $375,000 LFA was built Dec. 14, Toyota was left with a very costly and sophisticated -- yet nearly idle -- carbon-fiber factory. Now, engineers are looking for ways to repurpose the plant and channel the company's newfound carbon-fiber expertise into other products.... Read More »
BMW uses big Dec. gain to win U.S. luxury sales raceJan. 4, 2013 06:01 CET  BMW sales surged 39 percent in December, powered by the 5-series car line, helping it top Mercedes-Benz in luxury-brand sales in the United States for the second consecutive year. Sales for BMW increased to 37,399 vehicles last month, boosted by a 72 percent gain for its mid-sized 5 series. Mercedes reported a 9.5 percent increase from a year earlier to 28,145, helped by sales of the E-class sedan, which rose 32 percent to 6,984.... Read More »
BMW's 39% December gain overtakes Mercedes for U.S. sales crown 3:45 pm U.S. ET | Jan. 3, 2013  BMW sales surged 39 percent in December, powered by the 5-series car line, helping it top Mercedes-Benz in luxury-brand sales in the United States for the second consecutive year. Sales for BMW increased to 37,399 vehicles last month, boosted by a 72 percent gain for its midsize 5 series. Mercedes reported a 9.5 percent increase from a year earlier to 28,145, helped by sales of the E-class sedan, which rose 32 percent to 6,984.... Read More »
Lexus needs excitement in post-LFA era 12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 24, 2012  Lexus' 552-hp V-10 halo car, the LFA sports coupe, drives into the sunset at an awkward time for the luxury brand. As Lexus struggles to reinvent itself as an emotional, pulse-pumping brand, the lineup loses the head-turning speed demon that spurred the image makeover in the first place. Lexus executives concede they need a new halo.... Read More »
2012: THE YEAR IN PHOTOS Superspots 12:01 am U.S. ET | Dec. 24, 2012 A look at some of the memorable marketing moves of 2012.... Read More »
Toyota to pay record $17.35 million fine for U.S. defect reporting lapse 7:27 am U.S. ET | Dec. 18, 2012  Toyota has been ordered to pay a record fine of $17.35 million for failing to report a safety defect to federal regulators in a timely manner, the Department of Transportation said today. The fine is a record civil penalty for a single violation by an automaker and the maximum amount the department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can assess, government regulators said.... Read More »
Mercedes sees record U.S. sales; concedes luxury race with BMWDec. 14, 2012 06:01 CET  Mercedes expects to lose its lead in the U.S. luxury market to German rival BMW, which is expected to be aggressive in its incentive strategy this month.... Read More »
Toyota to alert customers about trunk-release defect 3:17 pm U.S. ET | Dec. 12, 2012  Toyota next month is expected to alert about 700,000 owners of three Lexus nameplates in the United States about a problem with the emergency trunk release, Consumer Reports magazine said today.... Read More »
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