Did not see it posted like it usually is so here are the numbers

ILX 1613
TLX 3530

Might be a clue to Mike Accavitti, VP-general manager of Acura, abrupt departure.

 

THANK YOU FOR THE AMAZING NEWS!! I knew that someday, something good would come at Acura...this may be the beginning!

"...the elimination of the dual exhaust will signal the green direction Acura wants to take..." - It is this kind of ridiculous statements that makes me lose confidence in someone

 

Lol. I feel you. Green direction my ass. Just because it looks green doesnt mean it is.

 

Sales are consistent. Great news!

July sales: 14,915
YTD 102,002

Acura is doing super well...I hope this year return the good memories of 2004 & 2005

 

Tony Pac with all due respect the head of marketing gets a great big a bonus not a very abrupt AXE with no kind words when sales are doing well.

They have a very nice car in the TLX but the marketing of it just sucks. The metal does not fit the image they are trying to convey with the TV adds.

Honda/Acura grew at 1.5% next premium manufactures up the line at 8%+ & on up the line into the double digits.

The TLX sold 25K units in 7 months while some of the cars they think of as competitors sell that many in 2 months.

Last month the 4 series which is the coup & convertible line of the 3 series was only 340 units behind the TLX despite a $10K base price spread favoring the TLX.

 

Just for comparison: TLX sales as listed in the monthly Honda news release:

Sept 2014: 3884
Oct 2014: 4890
Nov 2014: 4233
Dec 2014: 3834
Jan 2015: 2892
Feb 2015: 3419
Mar 2015: 3430
April 2015: 4093
May 2015: 4352
June 2015: 3986
July 2015: 3530

Acura can spin the sedan sales growth anyway they want, but they have to be somewhat concerned with the drops in June and July. I get that people are waiting for 2016 models, but gotta believe that transmission problems are affecting sales.

 

Especially considering the sales growth is imaginary, the inventory is swelling, and we still don't have '16 models. On a positive note, anyone looking to purchase in August and September should make out like a bandit.

 

I doubt it. Based on the amount of advertising I see (tv commercials, billboard ads, online ads, etc), Honda cares more about Honda than Acura.

 

Acura is actually doing well, however not really the sedans or despite them. Impressive is the total sales to entire lineup, I think they take the cake in that department, sales per model in the US market anyway among luxury brands.

The TLX is a mediocre seller, nothing crazy. ILX and RLX need help, unfortunately it seems Acura is actually doing the best they can with what is given to them to work with there.

A lot of this has been discussed in the past and also recently at TOV but apparently Honda has and likely will continue to hold Acura back, some might suggest that this is the kind of mother company that would get disappointed if the upcoming NSX could not wear a Honda badge here. The Japanese apparently are not as brand and status oriented as we are. For a long time (and much now) our luxury products and brands still fell under normal nameplates there.

Honda needs to start viewing Acura as the pinnacle of the Honda brand and not a spin off for select markets or what have you, maybe they actually do but cannot afford the further investments or maybe are reluctant to, who knows? Maybe Acura needs to pay it's own way forward but hard to do when the gap between Honda and Acura is as narrow as it's maybe ever been and so is the mainstream and luxury markets in general.

Something that folks who knew the recently resigned Accavitti seemed to suggest and struggle with as well. Whether that was actually a resignation or not who knows. Acura and Honda for that matter need to make a decision because the offerings at Honda are getting better and better IMO (SH on the Pilot and Accord in general) to soon no longer justify Acura sedans aside from the TLX SH maybe if they do not start making changes.

There is no need for a Honda + anymore, that's already here. Acura cars need a bit more refinement mainly with regards to their interiors which can be done with a few touches here and there, understandably they are often a competitively priced vehicle but that is what a luxury brand does. Secondly, the ILX and TLX need halo trims and a bit more sport competitiveness with the tops in class. Some might suggest it's because they really don't create a range topping version or intent to compete directly in the top of class, and I think that's true but then they need to start to.

 

I could be completely out to lunch, but I don't think Accavitti was responsible for Acura's mediocre products. I think it is Honda, controlling all the strings, while Accavitti was just the dancing puppet. I think he was promised he could make change but then Honda back pedalled and he simply told them to fuck off. This new guy, Ikeda, is just the new puppet.

The "green" look, without dual exhausts may not have even been accavitti's desire. But hey, he's not gonna go out and say "This is lousy shit. Don't buy my product".

 

One thing to think about is Acura's overall sales. The TLX peaked in May but so did Acura! Here is the TLX represented as a percentage of Acura's overall monthly sales number:

Sept: 28.1%
Oct: 31.7%
Nov: 28.5%
Dec: 21.5%
Jan: 24.1%
Feb: 26.3%
Mar: 23.4%
April: 27.5%
May: 25.5%
June: 25.6%
July: 23.6%

I don't know if I did it here or at TOV but I've said that March was the first "poor" month for the TLX - July was the second. Obviously December stands out but in December they had a V6 stop sale because ZF screwed up and that really hurt Acura. But the drop from May to June doesn't really concern me because the percentage of Acura's overall sales was the same. The drop from June to July is concerning because the percent dropped...but that's happened before, in March, and the TLX bounced back with 3 solid months in a row.

July was as sneaky bad month for Acura - they ran a big increase but the TLX and the MDX had poor results. I think we'll see a bounce back though because August has been a big month for Acura historically. And June and July weren't "bad" overall - they sold more vehicles over the last two months than they have at any time in the past 5-6 years so dealers are happy - it just could have been better.

The TLX has sold over 42,000 units in it's first 11 months on sale. There was never an official sales goal but the rumor was that 45,000 was the goal...the TLX should hit that number basically square on the head.

I think the transmission has held the car back somewhat - the stop/sale obviously had a big effect on December of last year and certainly affected the image of the vehicle overall.

 

Unofficial goal of 60,000?

http://www.autonews.com/article/2014...ing-top-seller

 

Regardless of numbers, I cant drive anywhere without TLXs on the road here in, and around NYC, the outer boroughs, and LI.

My commute home yesterday was interesting. I merged onto the highway, and in a line of 6 cars, there were 3 Bellanova TLXs. I was in the middle, and passed a 4 cylinder model; not sure which was one was bringing up the rear.

 

I rarely if ever see them here. At the very most, maybe one per day.

 

They certainly can build 60,000 a year.

Getting to that level isn't easy - in the luxury world only four cars got to more than 60,000 units in 2014: 3 series, C-Class, Lexus ES and E-Class.

And this year...probably only 3 vehicles will make it to 60K: 3 series, C-Class and ES as the E-Class is down 34% YTD. And even the ES is only at 29,000 vehicles through June so it needs to have a strong second half to make it.

Compare that to luxury SUVS - last year only the MDX and RX made it to 60,000 units...this year the RX, MDX, SRX and X5 are all likely to pass 60,000 units. As if we needed more numbers to show the ongoing shift to SUVs.

The TLX is also, I think, being hurt by the updated RDX. I think the new RDX looks a little sharper, is slightly cheaper with basically the same features, and it's newer with the benefit of an SUV's cargo room.

Not trying to "spin" anything here - these are just the facts as I see them.

I think Acura has to be content with what the TLX has done so far but they also have to be ready to adapt and change what needs to be changed on the TLX.

 

Think my neighborhood says it all about the TLX. Back in 3G land 5 or 6 TL's at a traffic light was something that could easily happen.

One of my posts in the 3G forum, maybe 2007 or 2008 talked about a gaggle of TL stopped for a light & mine being the only 6MT in the group.

The numbers dropped with the 4G & dried up with the TLX. Now IIRC I have seen less than 10 since they came out. The North Raleigh to RDU run along 540 Acura TL's by themselves were a traffic jam, now its the MDX that is the only one that has any visibility.

Its not that anyone has migrated to MB, BMW, Audi, Lexus or Infiniti as most of the are multi car/truck people already had one or more of the premiums.

I still believe a few pieces of trim & exhaust finishers would fill out the cars visuals. That said by presenting the car as a performance version when people compare it to the rest of the wanna be sports sedans/coupes it comes off poorly.

Think it should have been presented as a sporty family car. I know the big sellers at the lower end of the premium cars are not true runners but their are cars within their brand classification 3 series , C class etc. that are. So the people who buy the low performance versions have a nice halo that looks like their car.

There is no comparable TLX model to head up the series. With the existing car you need to go to the tire store to replace the mileage tires the car comes with right out of the box.

 

Agree the plant can build 60K units a year because it did so in the past. Problem that needs to be solved is selling them. Maybe the new guy will do better.

 

That's interesting. I recently made a round trip from Indiana to NYC (via I-80), up to NH and back to Ind. I can count on 1 hand and a couple fingers the number of TLXes I saw in 2300 miles of driving.

 

It could also be that the TLX just doesn't stand out at all and we are missing them. I'd imagine a TLX owner to see them more frequently than non TLX owners. Either way, that's not a good thing either.

 

I do not see many TLX in Seattleland.....


I do not want to beat a dead horse but I think think TLX is underwhelming in many areas because it belongs to a segment that is simply disappearing.

The true premium sport sedans are simply much more focused products and the mainstream midsize cars are closing in Acura sweet spot (with some cars basically already there, for example the Chrysler 200)

Not to mention the entry level trims of the already mentioned true premium segment priced at the 30 grand mark...roads are full of BMW 320i.

In September, for the 2016 MY, Infiniti should introduce in the North American market a fuel efficient 2 liter turbocharged (Mercedes sourced engine) entry level version of the Q50 already sold in Europe, priced at the discontinued Q40 (very little inventory left at dealers) level (31-32K)...it will be interesting to see if Q50 sales will shoot up as a result.

The semi-luxury segment of the market (think also of Buick Regal or VW CC) is being squeezed out of existence.


The ILX is going exactly nowhere, sales wise, compared to the previous version. The Audi A3 is simply crushing it.


The decision of Acura of not becoming an aspirational tier 1 brand is bearing its bitter fruit.

 

YTD sales for car brands:

MB: 233K
BMW: 215K
Lexus: 200K
Audi: 126K
Acura 114K
Cadillac: 101K
Infiniti 81K

I still believe Acura is doing well. It's in Top 5, better than Infiniti and Cadillac. I agree there is a decrease in TLX sales and that should be related to the transmission issue.

Now with the new RDX - Acura brand will see a slight jump and they might have another year where their total sales will be close to 200K units.

We all know that Acura will never beat Lexus, MB and BMW. It might beat Audi.

All sales numbers include north America.

 

Not only are sales dropping, the prices are dropping also. I made an online inquiry with a local dealer a few months back, and now I receive an email with discounted pricing from the dealer about once a month, usually near the end of the month. I received a new email today, with lower prices than the one I received just last week. If not for the transmission issues, I probably would buy one.

I also received a email today from the same dealer, offering $15,000 off their last remaining 2014 RLX.

 

$15K off...wow!

 

I actually had a Chrysler 200 rental for the day in Minneapolis a few weeks back. I have to say - it was surprisingly nice. Rode nice, was quiet, and the interior was pleasantly attractive. But - it was still a Chrysler. The powertrain (4 cyl and ZF 9 speed) was underwhelming (my 4 cyl TLX is much more responsive) and the interior, while attractive, felt kind of cheap - like an entry level Accord or Camry. Still - they're moving in the right direction with that car for sure.

I wouldn't put the 200 in the same class as the TLX - maybe the same as an Accord although I would buy an Accord (a little more refined) over the 200.

 

I do not completely agree....yes if you get the rental grade 200 (basically the cheapest trim) the interior while still nice for its very aggressive price is not up to premium/luxury level but if you climb the trim totem pole the cabin become quite impressive and luxurious IMHO better than the TLX (nice supple perforated leather, real wood, electric adjustment for steering wheel) and with the 200 you can actually get more tech than the TLX.

The 200 4 banger may not be too exciting (and let's not forget that it is short 20 horses compared to the TLX base motor) but the Pentastar V6 is quite the engine.

 

I always say "Never miss a chance to crap on anything positive."

 

I have also had several Chrysler 200s as rental cars, and have been impressed. I was trying to detect any problems with the ZF 9 speed, but did not really notice anything. However, how well they will hold up over time is still to be seen. I think it is safe to predict they will not be as dependable as a Honda or Toyota.

 

Number 5 in a 7 man race?

Based on the fact the top 3 (medal podium) each sell near twice as many units as Acura its more like they are in the Top Two of "Others". No one is going to say the others in the second 4 are doing all that well.

Shame of it is in 2004 & 2005 they knocked out 77K & 78K TL's. Mine was a 2006 & they sold 71K that year.

 

Well not necessary 5 out of 7. I just took the top 7. If we are complaining about Acura, then what should Infiniti's fans say?

81K units. It's a shame, especially when people say Infiniti is better than Acura.

 

I think you took, maybe inadvertently, the brands that the old Acura management viewed as their competition. They are also the brands that pop up here the most in the threads.

To put sales volumes into a context Ford sold 66K F-150's last month. So I think your Magnificent Seven suits the thread.

 

This did not make the time out cut:

Be careful with the Infiniti comment. Many here used similar comment "just because X sells more than the TL does not make it better" to justify the 4G's poor sales. The TLX monthly sales have not yet stabilized but the peak was 4900 units in October 2014. Since then the trend has been down.

The 4G had a similar curve. It did 3275 units in December 2010. This number was exceeded only once in the next 4 years. So it appears the TLX is doing much better than the 4G did, but not as well as it needs to do to be a factor in the market segment it wants to play in.

 

The TLX is replacing 2 models and it starts at a significant lower price point (and engine size)

The TL hit 3917 units in March 2010 and it has exceeded your posted 3275 number another 4 times. Unfortunately I do not have any month by month figures for 2009
The economy was in the crapper when the 4G TL came out, the worst recession since the great depression so....


I really do not see the TLX doing that great sales wise.

 

So what you're saying is if the recession didn't happen, even more 4Gs would have sold... Effectively making the TLX look even worse

 

Errata corrige: The TL did hit 3995 units in March 2011 and it has exceeded your 3275 number another 4 times and it has been a hair away from it another 3 times.

 

It could have...not for sure and we will never know, however the TLX is not a great success in my book....is consistently below the combined TSX and TL figures (in a worse economic environment)
It may make more money for Honda on the cost side of the equation (one model to manage instead of two).

Not to mention some of the business that is being lost, with the decision to develop the TLX, Acura has effectively written off a lot of 4C owners which are migrating to other brands and this is not just forum talk but something confirmed by Acura sales staff on the ground.

 

I don't know the trim level (not all rentals are the base trim - I had a VW Jetta Wolfsburg last year in Baltimore - really enjoyed driving that car although it was a tad underpowered too) but it didn't strike me as the base trim - it was fairly well appointed. I drive a fair amount of rentals over the course of the year and get a feel for what I like pretty quickly.

TLX > Accord > Chrysler 200.

Frankly the fact that the 200 is even in the discussion tells you they've done a great job on it - but I suggest you drive one for a day then report back. It's nice but not quite at the Toyota/Honda level of refinement yet.

 

tlx sales is just not impressive. but whoever bought the tlx should be happy because less people drive it and make yours rarer.

 

I said earlier I did not think the TLX was getting the job done, but its still outpointing the 4G. Its very hard to evaluate the TSX in this because of pricing variations that will skew the raw numbers. Regardless its unreasonable to expect a 1 for 1 pickup by the TSX.

My bad on the numbers, was a quick look.

I concede that it had two months March '10 3917 & March '11 3995 which were the high points & never really challenged over its 5 year life cycle. The TLX has exceeded 4,000 units 4 times in 12 months. Bottom line is the 4G did not sell very well.

 

Yes, but the TLX start at a lower price point and with a smaller engine.

True, there is some overlapping, still, even taking this into account, the sales needle is not moving compared to the TSX + TL combo.


As I said above, the TLX start at a cheaper price point and with smaller engine (not to mention a better economy). I think it was a bare minimum expectation to sell more than the TL.

Overall the TLX I think is gaining some new customers at the low end (very young professionals on a tight budget looking for a fuel efficient tech heavy premium car, previously TSX target demographic) and losing some others at the high end (4G owners looking to upgrade)


I do not think Accavitti bears many responsibilities (well we could fault him to approve the silly TLX "Thrill" marketing campaign) after all he played with the hand he was given and the cards are not that strong.

 

We bought the car because we liked it. Why do we care how much Acura sells?