"ranwhenparked" (ranwhenparked)
01/04/2019 at 19:36 • Filed to: None
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"ranwhenparked" (ranwhenparked)
01/04/2019 at 19:36 • Filed to: None | 2
| 18 |
I don’t know if anyone’s commented on this yet, but, with 2018 closed out, it seems Tesla has overtaken Lincoln and Cadillac to become the best selling domestic luxury marque in the US.
The last time any domestic luxury brand outsold either of those two was Packard in 1949.
Of course, Lexus and the Germans are still on top, but Tesla is growing quite rapidly. Within a few years, they could well be in striking distance of #3, if not higher.
Mercedes-Benz: 315,959 (excludes commercial vehicles)
BMW: 311,014
Lexus: 298,310
Audi: 223,323
Tesla: 182,400
Acura: 158,934
Cadillac: 154,702
Infiniti: 149,280
Lincoln: 103,587
Volvo: 98,263
Land Rover: 92,143
Porsche: 57,202
Jaguar: 30,483
Alfa Romeo: 23,800
Maserati: 11,263
Genesis: 10,312
BTW, the last time an American luxury brand was #1 in the US was Lincoln, back in 2000.
glemon
> ranwhenparked
01/04/2019 at 19:48 |
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Wow, that is a lot of Maseratis
facw
> ranwhenparked
01/04/2019 at 19:51 |
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I feel like calling 2000 Lincolns luxury cars is a bit of a stretch. Those were Fords with leather. Maybe you could make a claim for the LS, which while it shared a platform with the with the retro Thunderbird was its own thing and used a Jaguar engine.
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ranwhenparked
> facw
01/04/2019 at 20:01 |
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2000 was still just corporate platform sharing, that was well before the 1st gen Zephyr/MKZ that quite obviously shared most of its sheet metal with the Fusion and Milan.
BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> ranwhenparked
01/04/2019 at 20:13 |
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This list is shockingly interesting.
* I’d never have thought MB would outsell BMW. I would have figured BMW, Audi, MB, in that order.
* That’s a lot of Land Rovers
* How many Lexuses are non RX or NX series? I bet very few.
* Who TF is buying an Infiniti? Why?
* I’m really surprised Volvo isn’t twice that number, based on how many XC40s and 60s I see on a daily basis.
nermal
> ranwhenparked
01/04/2019 at 20:16 |
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Within a few years? It’s not just possible but actually quite likely that they will be the top selling luxury brand THIS year. They sold 32k cars in December alone.
IF they can even just maintain that rate, they will be clearly ahead of all of their competitors with no real sign of slowing down. Realistically, Model 3 production & sales will continue to ramp up. Don’t forget the availability of lower priced models, as well as remaining reservation holders that still haven’t bought a car.
On top of that, the Model Y will be revealed this year.
The Dummy Gummy
> nermal
01/04/2019 at 20:19 |
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December was last year and pull forward sales.
‘ they will be clearly ahead of all of their competitors with no real sign of slowing down’
Maybe, maybe not. They have a huge issue with free money rolling off. Every market they’ve been in where the gov incentives were removed sales declined sharply.
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The Dummy Gummy
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
01/04/2019 at 20:19 |
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That ‘affordable’ C class gave them huge sales if I remember correctly.
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ranwhenparked
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
01/04/2019 at 20:20 |
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Mercedes has been #1 for the past three years, but BMW closed a lot of the gap in 2018. Lexus’ SUVs/CUVs were 68.9% of their sales volume, their cars were down 11.4%, but their trucks were up 2.1%.
I left a lot of info out, Volvo was up a very healthy 20.6%, so they’ve really got momentum.
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ranwhenparked
> nermal
01/04/2019 at 20:21 |
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I’m trying to be conservative, there’s a lot of unknowns with Tesla specifically and the auto market in general going into this year.
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facw
> ranwhenparked
01/04/2019 at 21:08 |
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Shared sheet metal or not, everything else in that lineup besides LS was and obvious Ford, with a nearly identical Ford equivalent.
shop-teacher
> ranwhenparked
01/04/2019 at 21:33 |
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I would argue that Tesla's interiors and build quality at best put it more on par with near luxury, like Buick.
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ranwhenparked
> facw
01/04/2019 at 21:36 |
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We have a different definition of identical.
The Continental had a longer wheelbase and longer overall length than the equivalent Taurus, a different rear suspension setup, totally different sheet metal and glass, a different interior (except switchgear and stereos and the like), more sound deadening, softer suspension, and a V8, and was priced over $12,000 higher. There most certainly was not much of any cross shopping going on between the two.
The Town Car did have the same chassis and drivetrain as the Crown Vic, but a totally different body shell, different rear suspension, plusher interior, and more sound deadening, and was $18,000 more expensive.
The differences between Ford and Mercury were razor thin, I don’t doubt that buyers opted for a Taurus or Sable or Crown Victoria or Grand Marquis based on which dealer was offering a better price on the package they wanted, but I really doubt Lincoln customers thought of Fords as being interchangeable, there was definitely a good distinction between the brands, which is why Lincoln was still successful in that era.
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ranwhenparked
> shop-teacher
01/04/2019 at 21:39 |
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But their pricing would suggest otherwise.
Luxury cars aren’t about quality materials or superior craftsmanship anymore, they’re just about being expensive and having the most tech gadgets. And having a logo on the front that status conscious people respect.
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BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> ranwhenparked
01/04/2019 at 21:46 |
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Hearing the Volvo was up over 20% Ian even more shocking - they’re EVERYWHERE in the northeast. I drive 30000 miles a year and see a Tesla maybe two or three times a week; Volvo’s are multiple times a day. I also see like five BMWs for every MB and never see a Lexus sedan newer than 2014.
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shop-teacher
> ranwhenparked
01/04/2019 at 22:10 |
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Fair point.
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nermal
> The Dummy Gummy
01/04/2019 at 22:26 |
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Even if you take November #s of 25k units, that puts them right at 300k for the year.
They recently lost $3,750 in tax credits but also reduced prices by $2k, putting the net cost $1,750 higher as of today . Car prices go up every year and that’s not a yuuuuge jump, all else considered.
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nermal
> ranwhenparked
01/04/2019 at 22:32 |
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The two biggest issues facing the auto market this year are rising interest rates and instability in the stock market that is perceived as problems with the economy. That makes the cars cost more for people that need to finance, as well as leading others to hesitate from making large purchases.
It’s possible to grow in a shrinking industry, which I what I think Tesla will do this year.
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The Dummy Gummy
> nermal
01/04/2019 at 22:40 |
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That’s not what pull forward means...