Genesis continues to sell very well!

[hwks1]

Hyundai announced Aug sales numbers.. would like to know how there sales numbers compare with Lexus GS etc.?

"...Genesis continued its growth trajectory in August with its 26th consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases, and a sales lift of 13 percent over last August. And Equus, the highest-ranking premium luxury car in the 2011 J.D. Power and Associates APEAL study, delivered another strong month and is pacing well ahead of its first full-year sales target."

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/01/3878455/hyundai-motor-america-reports.html#ixzz1Wqrhcf9j

 

[Seattle Genesis]

Congratulations Hyundai !

 

[Gurkha]

Hyundai announced Aug sales numbers.. would like to know how there sales numbers compare with Lexus GS etc.?

Here's some July 2011 numbers: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8aCGPc8v_...Midsize+Luxury+Car+Sales+Chart+July+2011.jpeg

Don't know if they keep track of coupe and sedan separately though. I suspect they are lumped together in the US.
Canadian numbers have the sedan and coupe separated.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-Rc2WFIn...dsize+Luxury+Sedan+Sales+Chart+July+2011.jpeg

 

[Mark_888]

Lexus sales have been down, mostly due to supply problems from Japan (earthquake, etc.). BMW has leaped to the top of luxury car sales in the US, surpassing both Lexus and MB, but most think Lexus will make a comeback as supply problems ease.

 

[YEH]

^ But sales of the current GS has been anemic even before the quake/tsunami.

 

[hhgenny]

I sure would expect the Genny sales to continue to grow--it's an amazing vehicle. Brand acceptance still has a way to go, but that is changing favorably IMHO.

 

[Mark_888]

^ But sales of the current GS has been anemic even before the quake/tsunami.

So what? Sales of the Azera have been worse than anemic.

 

[hwks1]

Hyundai is really starting to get noticed. The Lexus gs is at the end of it's current models cycle and is getting very dated so those sales numbers will go up when they refresh the platform I'm pretty intrigued how Hyundai will evolve the Genesis when they update its platform in MY 2014.

I imagine a 2014 Genesis in totally new platform with AWD and significantly enhanced driving dynamics to go toe to toe with BMW. I'm already saving for a 2014!

 

[YEH]

So what? Sales of the Azera have been worse than anemic.

The GS is in the volume selling segment of the luxury market (the entry-level segment isn't really luxury) and unlike the Azera (which is part of "old Hyundai" and got zero advertising by Hyundai) used to sell pretty well (the Azera never sold well).

Also, sales of the current GS really dropped starting in its 4th year while Genesis sales continue to rise in its 4th year.

Sales of the Cube, Crosstour, etc. have been anemic as well - but they have no bearing on this discussion.

 

[Mark_888]

The GS is in the volume selling segment of the luxury market (the entry-level segment isn't really luxury) and unlike the Azera (which is part of "old Hyundai" and got zero advertising by Hyundai) used to sell pretty well (the Azera never sold well).

Also, sales of the current GS really dropped starting in its 4th year while Genesis sales continue to rise in its 4th year.

Sales of the Cube, Crosstour, etc. have been anemic as well - but they have no bearing on this discussion.

The problem with the Azera and the GS is the same and has nothing to do with advertising. It has to do with market segmentation. At the smaler end, the IS and BMW 3 has taken the bulk of sporting market share from the GS (or for larger vehicles the Infiniti M and BMW 5). The GS in no way competes with Genesis, other than an off-hand comment by Krafcek about wanting the Genesis to ride more like the GS than the LS. The Genesis is more of competition to LS than GS (pricing aside).

The Azera is too close in price and size to the base Genesis and IMO will never sell well, even in its completely new makeover that is coming (although I have obviously not seen the new prices yet). For example, a 2011 Azera Limited (without navigation) is only $4,200 less than the Genesis base model.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[hwks1]

....The Genesis is more of competition to LS than GS (pricing aside)..

Have to disagree here. Seems to me the Genesis competes directly with the Lexus GS, E Class, Audi A6 5 Series and Infiniti M . The Equus seems positioned against the Lexus LS, S Class, 7 Series and Audi A8.

 

[acoga]

Have to disagree here. Seems to me the Genesis competes directly with the Lexus GS, E Class, Audi A6 5 Series and Infiniti M . The Equus seems positioned against the Lexus LS, S Class, 7 Series and Audi A8.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig1vH7PcaZM"]Edmunds agrees[/ame] that the Genesis competes against the GS.

 

[Mark_888]

It's really hard to say what Genesis competes with, since based on size and features it really competes with LS, S Class, 7 Series (maybe loaded 5 series). Based on price it competes with GS in theory, but we don't see many people comparing the two. Of course the GS is a bit outdated as others have noted.

 

[YEH]

The problem with the Azera and the GS is the same and has nothing to do with advertising.

Some of the problem w/ the Azera has to do w/ advertising; the GS gets enough advertising in the Lexus ads featuring their lineup.

It has to do with market segmentation. At the smaler end, the IS and BMW 3 has taken the bulk of sporting market share from the GS (or for larger vehicles the Infiniti M and BMW 5).

Why would the IS be a factor in GS sales? One could very well say the same for the 3er when it comes to 5er sales.

Also, the GS used to sell pretty well for Lexus; even the outgoing GS sold pretty well in its 1st couple of years, but it simply wasn't as a compelling competitor in the mid-size luxury segment as previous gens of the GS.

The GS in no way competes with Genesis, other than an off-hand comment by Krafcek about wanting the Genesis to ride more like the GS than the LS. The Genesis is more of competition to LS than GS (pricing aside).

What?

The Genesis is Hyundai's offering in the mid-size luxury segment.

Hyundai isn't foolish to make 2 competitors to the LS; the Equus is enough for that.

The Azera is too close in price and size to the base Genesis and IMO will never sell well, even in its completely new makeover that is coming (although I have obviously not seen the new prices yet). For example, a 2011 Azera Limited (without navigation) is only $4,200 less than the Genesis base model.

Buyers are less welling to give up their tech or convenience goodies these days; esp. buyers at the high-$20K range and up (the base Genesis is not a big seller for Hyundai, most buyers have opted for at least the premium package).

Based on the price configurator for the new Azera, it seems that a fully-loaded Azera will go as high as $38K (the Azera has more advanced tech features than the Genesis), but should start in the mid'high-$20K range.

A lot of people are digging the more sleek profile/sheetmetal of the Azera over the Genesis, as well as the more-up-to-date looking dash/interior.

In addition, there are a lot of buyers who do want FWD or AWD.

The current Azera was simply not a compelling offering by Hyundai within the upscale, large sedan segment.

The new Azera looks to be a quite compelling; it won't sell as well as say, the Taurus, but the new Azera should eventually be able to do btwn 3-4K units monthly.

It's really hard to say what Genesis competes with, since based on size and features it really competes with LS, S Class, 7 Series (maybe loaded 5 series). Based on price it competes with GS in theory, but we don't see many people comparing the two. Of course the GS is a bit outdated as others have noted.

The Genesis in no way competes against the flagship sedans.

Sure, its interior room is larger than the norm in the mid-size segment but that's Hyundai simply offering "more bang for the buck" as a new entrant in the segment and one that has to offer more to against the more established players.

It's the same reason why the Infiniti G and Cadillac CTS are a bit larger than the other entrants in the compact luxury segment.

 

[hwks1]

Here's some July 2011 numbers: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8aCGPc8v_...Midsize+Luxury+Car+Sales+Chart+July+2011.jpeg

Don't know if they keep track of coupe and sedan separately though. I suspect they are lumped together in the US.
Canadian numbers have the sedan and coupe separated.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-Rc2WFIn...dsize+Luxury+Sedan+Sales+Chart+July+2011.jpeg

Pretty impressive. If Genesis had an AWD option my hunch is that those sales numbers would be 50% higher

 

[Mark_888]

Some of the problem w/ the Azera has to do w/ advertising; the GS gets enough advertising in the Lexus ads featuring their lineup.

That was the official HMA line, but they increased advertising and promotions and it didn’t make a real difference.

The current Azera was simply not a compelling offering by Hyundai within the upscale, large sedan segment.

Yes, glad you admit your comment above about advertising is BS. I like how, you being a Hyundai insider, you use the word "not a compelling offering" when we consumers use terms such as POS, especially when only about $3-4K less than the Genesis base mode (as was the case in 2009).

The Genesis in no way competes against the flagship sedans.

I am not going to specifically answer every one of your other comments, other than to say that marketing people (despite their own delusions of grandeur) do not determine what the competition is, the market determines that, and sometimes strange things happen that are unanticipated. I have read most of posts on this forum over the last almost 3 years and have a pretty good idea of what car others came from, and some are replacing LS, etc. I have only rarely seen anyone coming to Genesis from GS. We live in a new era, and not everyone is willing or able to flaunt wealth anymore, and it even seems excessive to do so in many circumstances.

 

[Mark_888]

Don't know if they keep track of coupe and sedan separately though. I suspect they are lumped together in the US.
Canadian numbers have the sedan and coupe separated.

In the US they are lumped together when reported. This obviously makes no sense since they are vastly different cars, unlike most other sedan/coupe cars of the same model name. The reason for this has to do with the way the Genesis was originally sold in Korea where the brand is Genesis and model is Sedan or Coupe. In the US, the brand is Hyundai and model is Genesis. That also explains why the Korean version has no “H” logos, and has wings instead (because the brand is Genesis).

 

[Gurkha]

In the US they are lumped together when reported. This obviously makes no sense since they are vastly different cars, unlike most other sedan/coupe cars of the same model name. The reason for this has to do with the way the Genesis was originally sold in Korea where the brand is Genesis and model is Sedan or Coupe. In the US, the brand is Hyundai and model is Genesis.

Well if they can report it separately in Canada, why not in the US?

 

[Mark_888]

Well if they can report it separately in Canada, why not in the US?

Becasue I explained it above the way it works in the US. Or maybe HMA doesn't want to seperate them. Marketing people are always a little devious.

 

[YEH]

That was the official HMA line, but they increased advertising and promotions and it didn’t make a real difference.

The Azera has never had a specific TV commercial campaign to my knowledge.

It's no surprise that the Sorento and Soul are the 2 best selling models for Kia (both have had prominent exclusive and memorable ad campaigns); but advertising is only part of the equation since the Kia models are much more competitive within their respective segments than is the current Azera.

W/ the new Azera likely being near the top of the heap in the upscale, full-size FWD segment, a good TV ad campaign will get sales going.

Yes, glad you admit your comment above about advertising is BS. I like how, you being a Hyundai insider, you use the word "not a compelling offering" when we consumers use terms such as POS, especially when only about $3-4K less than the Genesis base mode (as was the case in 2009).

The current Azera is not a "POS"; the Azera actually gets pretty respectable reviews for a soft-riding, non-drivers model, but it is outclassed by everything in its segment right now but the Impala (in many ways, it's like the Kia Sedona w/in the minivan segment).

I am not going to specifically answer every one of your other comments, other than to say that marketing people (despite their own delusions of grandeur) do not determine what the competition is, the market determines that, and sometimes strange things happen that are unanticipated. I have read most of posts on this forum over the last almost 3 years and have a pretty good idea of what car others came from, and some are replacing LS, etc. I have only rarely seen anyone coming to Genesis from GS. We live in a new era, and not everyone is willing or able to flaunt wealth anymore, and it even seems excessive to do so in many circumstances.

It's not the marketing people who make these decisions, but the product planners (whether there are buyers coming from the LS instead of the GS is of little matter).

Hyundai is not trying to do anything new w/ their luxury lineup - they are filling their lineup w/in the segments that have long been established.

The Genesis sedan is their "mid-size" offering going against the GS, M, as well as the E Class, 5 Series, A6, etc.

The Equus is their full-size offering going up against the other flagship sedans.

The smaller RWD sedan that is in the works will go against the compact segment - Infiniti G, IS, 3 Series, etc.

As for Hyundai USA not separating sales of the sedan and coupe, it's a bit puzzling why they don't bother to do it like Hyundai CA, esp. since there is no issue w/ lackluster Genesis sedan sales in the US unlike that for Canada.