Acura: Sales, Marketing, and Financial News
10-01-2008, 06:13 PM
#1481
Safety Car
Luxury Makes
Audi -5.4%
Mercedes -16.4%
Lincoln -22.5%
Infiniti 24.1%
BMW -25.8%
Acura -27.5%
Lexus -35.1%
Cadillac -39.1%
10-02-2008, 02:45 PM
#1487
6G TLX-S
It's a totally different world in Canada, literally.
Toyota sets sales record in slumping market
Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, October 01, 2008
TORONTO - Toyota Canada Inc. reported its ninth straight monthly sales record Wednesday, defying a Canadian auto retail market that has been softening overall.
The company said a final tally shows it sold 14.9 per cent more vehicles in September versus the same month last year as fuel sippers like the Yaris, Corolla and Prius scored with buyers. Sales rose 37.6 per cent at its luxury Lexus brand on the strength of its RX crossover utility vehicle. Other automakers will report Canadian and U.S. sales throughout the day Wednesday. Other automakers will report Canadian and U.S. sales throughout the day Wednesday.
"We're not projecting out what the rest of the quarter may or may not (bring) based on what's happening economically," said Sandy Di Felice, spokesperson for Toyota. "Our customers are telling us they want value and they want fuel efficiency. And we think Toyota is really well positioned to deliver."
Di Felice declined to comment on whether Toyota believes it can continue to set records in a market where gasoline prices are now coming down and the economy is weakening. The average price of a litre gasoline in Canada is now less than $1.20 for the first time since April, according to MJ Ervin & Associates, a Calgary-based petroleum-industry consultancy firm.
Honda Canada reported a modest 0.3 per cent sales gain for September. It may have suffered a lack of available product to sell. Audi Canada reported a 53 per cent increase in sales, its third best month ever.
After a surprisingly strong start to the year, passenger vehicles in Canada have fallen back, easing to an annual selling rate of 1.66 million vehicles over the last three months, according to a report Tuesday by Scotiabank economist Carlos Gomes.
Canadians have become more frugal as economic uncertainty grows, Gomes said. Employment growth has moderated to 1.3 per cent year-over-year in August from two per cent earlier in the year.
"The sharp erosion in U.S. economic conditions will increasingly take a bigger toll on Canadian prospects," Gomes said. "Although our household and government balance sheets are not as leveraged as in the United States, the economic slowdown has spread across the globe, and will increasingly weaken activity in Canada."
Detroit-based automakers were among the worst performers in August, reporting double-digit declines as General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC pulled back from leasing. On the flip side, automakers based overseas continued to perform well, posting an 11 per cent sales gain through the end of August and lifting the overall Canadian market up 1.4 per cent in the first eight months.
In the United States, September vehicle sales numbers are expected to show further weakness as a growing number of buyers find they can't get access to credit to buy a new car or truck. Auto information website Edmunds.com predicted last week they will sink to 1.05 million units, a level not seen in 15 years.
"Consumers and businesses are in a very fragile place," Jim Farley, Ford group vice-president, said in a statement. "An already weak economy compounded by very tight credit conditions has created an atmosphere of caution."
Edmunds, which releases estimates of automaker incentive spending every month, said it estimates manufacturers spent $2,801 US in discounts on average per vehicle sold in the United States in September, about the same as in August.
© Financial Post 2008
Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, October 01, 2008
TORONTO - Toyota Canada Inc. reported its ninth straight monthly sales record Wednesday, defying a Canadian auto retail market that has been softening overall.
The company said a final tally shows it sold 14.9 per cent more vehicles in September versus the same month last year as fuel sippers like the Yaris, Corolla and Prius scored with buyers. Sales rose 37.6 per cent at its luxury Lexus brand on the strength of its RX crossover utility vehicle. Other automakers will report Canadian and U.S. sales throughout the day Wednesday. Other automakers will report Canadian and U.S. sales throughout the day Wednesday.
"We're not projecting out what the rest of the quarter may or may not (bring) based on what's happening economically," said Sandy Di Felice, spokesperson for Toyota. "Our customers are telling us they want value and they want fuel efficiency. And we think Toyota is really well positioned to deliver."
Di Felice declined to comment on whether Toyota believes it can continue to set records in a market where gasoline prices are now coming down and the economy is weakening. The average price of a litre gasoline in Canada is now less than $1.20 for the first time since April, according to MJ Ervin & Associates, a Calgary-based petroleum-industry consultancy firm.
Honda Canada reported a modest 0.3 per cent sales gain for September. It may have suffered a lack of available product to sell. Audi Canada reported a 53 per cent increase in sales, its third best month ever.
After a surprisingly strong start to the year, passenger vehicles in Canada have fallen back, easing to an annual selling rate of 1.66 million vehicles over the last three months, according to a report Tuesday by Scotiabank economist Carlos Gomes.
Canadians have become more frugal as economic uncertainty grows, Gomes said. Employment growth has moderated to 1.3 per cent year-over-year in August from two per cent earlier in the year.
"The sharp erosion in U.S. economic conditions will increasingly take a bigger toll on Canadian prospects," Gomes said. "Although our household and government balance sheets are not as leveraged as in the United States, the economic slowdown has spread across the globe, and will increasingly weaken activity in Canada."
Detroit-based automakers were among the worst performers in August, reporting double-digit declines as General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC pulled back from leasing. On the flip side, automakers based overseas continued to perform well, posting an 11 per cent sales gain through the end of August and lifting the overall Canadian market up 1.4 per cent in the first eight months.
In the United States, September vehicle sales numbers are expected to show further weakness as a growing number of buyers find they can't get access to credit to buy a new car or truck. Auto information website Edmunds.com predicted last week they will sink to 1.05 million units, a level not seen in 15 years.
"Consumers and businesses are in a very fragile place," Jim Farley, Ford group vice-president, said in a statement. "An already weak economy compounded by very tight credit conditions has created an atmosphere of caution."
Edmunds, which releases estimates of automaker incentive spending every month, said it estimates manufacturers spent $2,801 US in discounts on average per vehicle sold in the United States in September, about the same as in August.
© Financial Post 2008
10-02-2008, 03:16 PM
#1488
is in Honda heaven
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Their prices are! When you dont offer anything under $16K you can't expect for sales to be strong through tough times like this. I work for Mazda and my dealership has been selling the same amount of new and used cars for the last year or so.
10-02-2008, 03:54 PM
#1489
Audi -5.4%
Mercedes -16.4%
Lincoln -22.5%
Infiniti 24.1%
BMW -25.8%
Acura -27.5%
Lexus -35.1%
Cadillac -39.1%
How can the Infiniti sales increase??? Or is this a typo?
Mercedes -16.4%
Lincoln -22.5%
Infiniti 24.1%
BMW -25.8%
Acura -27.5%
Lexus -35.1%
Cadillac -39.1%
How can the Infiniti sales increase??? Or is this a typo?
10-02-2008, 04:46 PM
#1490
^ the new FX is selling better than the old one!!! Who woulda thunk...
10-02-2008, 06:06 PM
#1491
Safety Car
Typo
10-05-2008, 11:46 AM
#1492
socialism= the suck
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exactly what i was thinking. with fuel up and unemployment up, housing market unstable and this whole bailout thing going on i think most people are just "staying put." i don't think 2008 or 2009 model years any automaker gonna set records.
10-06-2008, 01:36 PM
#1495
6G TLX-S
10-06-2008, 03:59 PM
#1497
Senior Moderator
10-06-2008, 04:02 PM
#1498
Too much chrome
Join Date: Sep 2008
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You think they will offer 0.9% financing like they did with their suvs and the accord? The 4.9% financing deal is up today, so I'm hoping for some good news tomorrow.
10-06-2008, 07:53 PM
#1499
mmmmmm....
10-07-2008, 03:49 PM
#1502
6G TLX-S
The Feds has to fix the housing and credit crisis first. Without even a house to live in, why would the homeless people need a car for ?
10-07-2008, 03:58 PM
#1503
The sizzle in the Steak
10-07-2008, 06:35 PM
#1504
I guess I wasnt dreaming when i saw that VW is now the most valuable car maker in the world.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/07/t...da-volkswagen/
10-07-2008, 07:01 PM
#1505
The sizzle in the Steak
VW König der Autowelt
01-22-2009, 10:22 AM
#1507
Safety Car
Update
Shanghai, January 14, 2009: (Gasgoo.com) Honda's luxury Acura brand defied the downturn in China's auto market in 2008 by selling 106.7% more units than the previous year, said Chinese media today. The three Acura models - RL, MDX and TL - had sold 2,898 units in total last year, over-fulfilling the year's sales target.
In 2008, Honda launched two Acura models in China: the 2009 Acura RL and 2009 Acura TL in China's high-class car segment. The product upgrades, new model launch and network expansion have greatly boosted the Acura brand recognition in the Chinese market.
In China's fast-growing SUV segment, the luxury Acura MDX has maintained its robust sales and has been the best-seller of the Acura brand. Last year, the Acura MDX SUV sold 2,139 units, up 119% from 2007. The Acura MDX SUV was designated as a VIP vehicle on many official occasions.
Currently, three Acura models are available in the China market, priced between 400,000 yuan ($58,500) and 700,000 yuan. In China, Acura sold 1,402 units in 2007 and 2,898 units in 2008, with the Acura MDX, as luxury SUV, as the flagship model.
Based on its good performance and strong confidence in the Chinese market, Honda Acura is expected to increase its China sales by 40% to 4,000 units this year.
Acura dealers in China's mainland have more than doubled to nearly 30 by the end of last year and will rise to 50 by 2010.
For more information please visit http://www.gasgoo.com
01-22-2009, 12:29 PM
#1510
Senior Moderator
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Well according to Acura of China, the TL stands for "Touched Love" 
01-23-2009, 01:09 AM
#1511
6G TLX-S
Only sold 2,898 Acura units in such a highly populated country like China. What a joke ?
01-26-2009, 06:05 PM
#1512
socialism= the suck
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to buy a new Acura over there you have to have some special degrees like a lawyer or doctor.
01-26-2009, 08:46 PM
#1513
Senior Moderator
I wouldn't expect to sell too many units when the lowest price one is $58k. Most of China can't afford those prices. Even in the US $58k is a high price for a vehicle that most of the population cannot afford.
01-27-2009, 06:32 AM
#1514
Three Wheelin'
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Lexus, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes are doing alright in China. Hell, even Infiniti sold more cars than Acura.
01-27-2009, 07:12 PM
#1515
6G TLX-S
People are very wealthy in those parts of China. Plus all those layers of corrupted government people who can afford almost anything and everything. I'm pretty sure there are hundred folds of 2,898 wealthy Chinese who can well afford expensive vehicles in China.
01-28-2009, 04:31 PM
#1516
Pro
Yeah, lots of wealthy people in China. Still lots of poor ones too. The income gap is bigger.
Most rich ones motor in Audi A6, THE executive sedan in China. Acura is little known there, and as long as it's 2nd tier in the U.S., no one will buy it in China.
Most rich ones motor in Audi A6, THE executive sedan in China. Acura is little known there, and as long as it's 2nd tier in the U.S., no one will buy it in China.
07-06-2009, 10:54 AM
#1517
Safety Car
Latest Commercials
I must say, their new advertising arm is doing a decent job:
07-06-2009, 11:05 AM
#1518
an asshole from florida
i think they suck...they are showing a bunch of front ends that look good then they hit you with the phlem grill. then they decide to talk about what ever they want about acura and use the mdx grill
07-06-2009, 12:25 PM
#1519
The sizzle in the Steak
These new commercials proove one thing for sure: Everyone elses front grille work is 10000000000000000x's better than the Acura Beak.
07-06-2009, 01:05 PM
#1520
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
Honda still doesn't get it.
It's their cars and designs that is fucking up the Acura brand. Not the marketing. I work for an advertising agency. It is VERY VERY hard to convince our clients to do something that's considered as a major, and changing the design of a car is a SUPER major thing. It is probably impossible to convince them.
Yes, obviously, without a great and extensive marketing campaign, Acura won't be able to establish a sufficient amount of luxury brand identity. They HAVE TO do a good job of marketing.
Marketing's main objective is to shape the desired perception of a brand in the consumers' minds, in my opinion. However, I believe Acura's "products" themselves don't have much competitive edge to back up the perception that the ad agency may be able to establish in the consumers' minds.
Who cares if the new ad campaign successfully attract consumers to the dealerships and increase the sales. It just won't last long without the great products to back it up.
Good products must co-exist with good marketing campaign to be successful in a long run.
It's their cars and designs that is fucking up the Acura brand. Not the marketing. I work for an advertising agency. It is VERY VERY hard to convince our clients to do something that's considered as a major, and changing the design of a car is a SUPER major thing. It is probably impossible to convince them.
Yes, obviously, without a great and extensive marketing campaign, Acura won't be able to establish a sufficient amount of luxury brand identity. They HAVE TO do a good job of marketing.
Marketing's main objective is to shape the desired perception of a brand in the consumers' minds, in my opinion. However, I believe Acura's "products" themselves don't have much competitive edge to back up the perception that the ad agency may be able to establish in the consumers' minds.
Who cares if the new ad campaign successfully attract consumers to the dealerships and increase the sales. It just won't last long without the great products to back it up.
Good products must co-exist with good marketing campaign to be successful in a long run.