Cars
We'll be hearing about high U.S. sales volumes from most automakers when May sales data is released on Friday, June 1. Before those numbers are released, however, it's worth finding a bit of luxury automobile sales context from the data already released this year.
It's starting to seem like it's been a long time since "Japanese luxury" equated exclusively with the Toyota Cressida. Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti are well-known brands in North America and, particularly in the case of Lexus, becoming more famous across the globe. Toyota's luxury brand ranks as the third-best-selling premium brand in America so far this year, 23,667 sales ahead of Honda's premium division, Acura. Infiniti trails Acura by 9631 units, slotting in behind Audi and Cadillac, two brands which don't sell with quite the same frequency as Acura.
Lexus sales are up less than 3% this year. Acura is up by just eight units. And Infiniti is down 3.6%. The overall new vehicle market has improved by 10.3%. It's not just mainstream brands that are reporting major gains. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Land Rover, Jaguar, Maserati, and Bentley have all seen sales improve better than 15%.
The three most popular Japanese luxury vehicles - sales figures for which are posted after the jump - are down sharply this year. Of the 22 nameplates sold by Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti this year, 15 have recorded declining year-over-year sales. The Infiniti JX, of course, wasn't on sale at this time last year and thus has no previous year data with which 2012's 2619-unit four-month total can be compared.
Lexus vs. Acura vs. Infiniti isn't a battle mentioned that often, mainly because Mercedes-Benz and BMW are far more formidable foes for the Lexus brand. Nevertheless, 26 years after Honda established Acura, the success of these three brands in comparison with one another is routinely similar. Lexus easily beats Acura. Acura easily beats Infiniti.
Sales figures for any premium Japanese car and for any other vehicle currently on sale in North America can be accessed through the dropdown menu at the top right of this page. A complete rundown of every brand's April 2012 sales can be viewed here. And every one of the 255 vehicles acquired at least once in America is ranked by year-to-date volume here. Click the above chart for a larger view.
Source: Manufacturers
Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
U.S. Auto Sales By Brand - April 2012
U.S. Auto Sales By Brand - 2011 Year End
Luxury Auto Brand Market Share In America - April 2012
Mercedes-Benz vs. BMW vs. Audi - 2012 Monthly & YTD Sales
- Luxury Auto Brand Market Share In Canada - May 2012
This Interior Helped Make The JX Canada's Best-Selling Infiniti In MayOne year ago, Japan's three luxury brands combined to own 19.6% of the Canadian luxury car market, less than BMW or Mercedes-Benz, individually. In May 2012, the same three...
- Small/entry Luxury Car Sales And Midsize Luxury Car Sales In Canada - April 2012
April 2012 Small/Entry Luxury Car Sales Chart Click Either Chart For A Larger ViewInfiniti car sales were down 8% in Canada in April 2012, but much of that decline was created by the M family of sedans. Infiniti's G25 and G37 sedan and coupe slid...
- Top 30 Best-selling Luxury Vehicles In America - April 2012
The DTM Version Of America's 31st-best-selling premium car, the Audi A5The BMW 3-Series is re-solidifying its position as America's top-selling luxury car. The 3-Series ended April 2161 units ahead of the Lexus RX crossover and 2579 sales ahead...
- Luxury Auto Market Share In America - July 2011
With 114,572 sales tucked inside the chart you'll peruse below, luxury auto brands competing in the United States owned 10.8% of the overall new car market in July. 47.2% of those luxury brand sales were the result of transactions at German-brand...
- Lexus Vs Acura Vs Infiniti - Which Japanese Luxury Automaker Sells Best?
Honda beat Toyota and Nissan to the North American luxury market by three years. Acura's 1986 entry gave Honda a headstart; but since that time Acura has always been fighting for the prestige that Lexus grabbed hold of in 1989. Infiniti, meanwhile,...
Cars
Lexus vs Acura vs Infiniti - 2012 Monthly And April Year-To-Date Sales
It's starting to seem like it's been a long time since "Japanese luxury" equated exclusively with the Toyota Cressida. Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti are well-known brands in North America and, particularly in the case of Lexus, becoming more famous across the globe. Toyota's luxury brand ranks as the third-best-selling premium brand in America so far this year, 23,667 sales ahead of Honda's premium division, Acura. Infiniti trails Acura by 9631 units, slotting in behind Audi and Cadillac, two brands which don't sell with quite the same frequency as Acura.
The three most popular Japanese luxury vehicles - sales figures for which are posted after the jump - are down sharply this year. Of the 22 nameplates sold by Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti this year, 15 have recorded declining year-over-year sales. The Infiniti JX, of course, wasn't on sale at this time last year and thus has no previous year data with which 2012's 2619-unit four-month total can be compared.
Lexus vs. Acura vs. Infiniti isn't a battle mentioned that often, mainly because Mercedes-Benz and BMW are far more formidable foes for the Lexus brand. Nevertheless, 26 years after Honda established Acura, the success of these three brands in comparison with one another is routinely similar. Lexus easily beats Acura. Acura easily beats Infiniti.
Sales figures for any premium Japanese car and for any other vehicle currently on sale in North America can be accessed through the dropdown menu at the top right of this page. A complete rundown of every brand's April 2012 sales can be viewed here. And every one of the 255 vehicles acquired at least once in America is ranked by year-to-date volume here. Click the above chart for a larger view.
| Ranking | Automaker | April 2012 YTD | April 2011 YTD | % Change |
| #1 | Mercedes-Benz | 88,951 | 75,146 | + 18.4% |
| #2 | BMW | 82,611 | 71,417 | + 15.7% |
| #3 | Lexus | 66,647 | 64,932 | + 2.6% |
| #4 | Acura | 42,980 | 42,972 | + 0.02% |
| #5 | Audi | 40,991 | 35,401 | + 15.8% |
| #6 | Cadillac | 40,817 | 53,639 | - 23.9% |
| #7 | Infiniti | 33,349 | 34,597 | - 3.6% |
| #8 | Lincoln | 27,144 | 27,243 | - 0.4% |
| #9 | Volvo | 21,265 | 21,844 | - 2.7% |
| #10 | Land Rover | 13,951 | 11,249 | + 24.0% |
| #11 | Porsche | 10,596 | 10,179 | + 4.1% |
| #12 | Jaguar | 4401 | 3750 | + 17.4% |
| #11 | Maserati | 834 | 702 | + 18.8% |
| #11 | Bentley | 653 | 439 | + 48.7% |
| Ranking | Vehicle | April 2012 YTD | April 2011 YTD | % Change |
| #1 | Lexus RX | 24,729 | 28,850 | - 14.3% |
| #2 | Infiniti G | 18,278 | 20,680 | - 11.6% |
| #3 | Acura MDX | 14,151 | 14,997 | - 5.6% |
| #4 | Acura TSX | 12,132 | 10,650 | + 13.9% |
| #5 | Lexus ES350 | 11,548 | 12,038 | - 4.1% |
| #6 | Acura TL | 11,414 | 10,921 | + 4.5% |
| #7 | Lexus IS | 8966 | 9669 | - 7.3% |
| #8 | Lexus GS | 7054 | 1488 | + 374% |
| #9 | Lexus CT200h | 6510 | 3074 | + 112% |
| #10 | Acura RDX | 4882 | 4977 | - 1.9% |
| #11 | Infiniti QX56 | 4431 | 4015 | + 10.4% |
| #12 | Infiniti FX | 3525 | 3770 | - 6.5% |
| #13 | Lexus GX460 | 3272 | 4443 | - 26.4% |
| #14 | Infiniti M | 3260 | 4101 | - 20.5% |
| #15 | Infiniti JX35 | 2619 | ----- | ----- |
| #16 | Lexus LS | 2101 | 3157 | - 33.4% |
| #17 | Lexus LX570 | 1855 | 1199 | + 54.7% |
| #18 | Infiniti EX35 | 1236 | 2031 | - 39.1% |
| #19 | Lexus HS250h | 591 | 978 | - 39.6% |
| #20 | Acura ZDX | 269 | 719 | - 62.6% |
| #21 | Acura RL | 132 | 708 | - 81.4% |
| #22 | Lexus LFA | 19 | 22 | - 13.6% |
Related From GoodCarBadCar.net
U.S. Auto Sales By Brand - April 2012
U.S. Auto Sales By Brand - 2011 Year End
Luxury Auto Brand Market Share In America - April 2012
Mercedes-Benz vs. BMW vs. Audi - 2012 Monthly & YTD Sales
- Luxury Auto Brand Market Share In Canada - May 2012
This Interior Helped Make The JX Canada's Best-Selling Infiniti In MayOne year ago, Japan's three luxury brands combined to own 19.6% of the Canadian luxury car market, less than BMW or Mercedes-Benz, individually. In May 2012, the same three...
- Small/entry Luxury Car Sales And Midsize Luxury Car Sales In Canada - April 2012
April 2012 Small/Entry Luxury Car Sales Chart Click Either Chart For A Larger ViewInfiniti car sales were down 8% in Canada in April 2012, but much of that decline was created by the M family of sedans. Infiniti's G25 and G37 sedan and coupe slid...
- Top 30 Best-selling Luxury Vehicles In America - April 2012
The DTM Version Of America's 31st-best-selling premium car, the Audi A5The BMW 3-Series is re-solidifying its position as America's top-selling luxury car. The 3-Series ended April 2161 units ahead of the Lexus RX crossover and 2579 sales ahead...
- Luxury Auto Market Share In America - July 2011
With 114,572 sales tucked inside the chart you'll peruse below, luxury auto brands competing in the United States owned 10.8% of the overall new car market in July. 47.2% of those luxury brand sales were the result of transactions at German-brand...
- Lexus Vs Acura Vs Infiniti - Which Japanese Luxury Automaker Sells Best?
Honda beat Toyota and Nissan to the North American luxury market by three years. Acura's 1986 entry gave Honda a headstart; but since that time Acura has always been fighting for the prestige that Lexus grabbed hold of in 1989. Infiniti, meanwhile,...