Toyota Lexus is on its course to become the best-selling imported car in South Korea successively for the second year beating German automaker BMW.
BMW had held the top position in South Korea for six consecutive years since 1999, but since last year the Japanese automaker Toyota’s Lexus took the lead. The increase in sales of Lexus was attributed to Japanese brand’s aggressive promotions that particularly targeted affluent housewives in Seoul.
Toyota sold 5,183 Lexus sedans in South Korea in the first 10 months of this year; BMW lagged with sales of 4,931 units. Imported car market in South Korea went up by 32 percent in 2005; Sales are expected to expand more than 10 percent this year to 34,000 units, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association. Car Dealers in South Korea say BMW has failed to adjust its red-tape marketing strategy in this surging imported automotive market.
Toyota Korea recently launched its much anticipated Lexus RX400h Hybrid SUV featuring the revolutionary Lexus Hybrid Drive System. Based on Toyota’s second generation hybrid synergy drive, the RX400h hybrid is not only fuel efficient but this Lexus hybrid SUVÂ has great power; it can produce up to 270 horsepower with its front mounted 3.3 liter V6 internal combustion engine pooled with front and back electric motors.
