Mercedes-Benz will most probably sell 254,100 cars and SUVs in the States topping BMW’s estimated deliveries of 250,400 units. Lexus is projected to drop to third place with 192,900 sales.Though it has sunk a lot of money into the LFA supercar and CT 200h hybrid batch, Lexus’ supposed mainstay models – the IS, GS and LS ranges of sedans – have all been stagnating. Its rivals meanwhile have been ramping up U.S. production, developing new or refreshing older models and sinking hundreds of millions in improving its stateside manufacturing facilities.
Though Lexus has long held a strategic position in the U.S. market, its sales outside North America have been lacking. As was the case with Volvo and safety, reliability is now pretty much a given and excellence in customer service has become integral to the vast majority of the world’s luxury automakers. With Lexus’ current woes, the result is, as you’d expect.The battle lines have been drawn, and three titans are ready to fight for the number one spot in 2012. Unfortunately, it looks as if Lexus will not be one of them.
