[afako]

Read the complete interview.

Lots of tidbits like:



What are Lexus’s three largest markets in Europe? This year we plan to sell over 50,000 units, of
which 18,000 will be in Russia, 12,000 in the UK
and 4,000 in France.

Does Lexus need more dealers in Europe? We have about 270 to 280 dealers in our 56
European markets, which include Russia and the
Baltic states. We would like more in areas that
have potential for Lexus, but our business model
calls for an average of 100 annual sales per
outlet to be profitable. We only open new dealers in territories that can sustain them long term.

Will Lexus offer diesel powertrains in Europe again? No, for the foreseeable future gasoline-hybrid
will be our defining technology for Europe.

http://europe.autonews.com/article/20141105/ANE/141109945?template=mobile02&X-IgnoreUserAgent=1

 

[Ruperts Trooper]

When Toyota set up the original Lexus business model in the US, it expected to roll out that same business model globally but soon found that aspects of it didn't work well in Europe so they have evolved their business model differently for Europe.

Two general observations - Lexus don't need to offer diesel as they have hybrid for customers that want economy - Cadillac could do a lot worse than copy Lexus's European business model for European sales, but don't expect copying their US business model to work in Europe.

 

[zl-1]

Not sure that the gas-hybrind instead of diesel will work; but anything is better than Cadillac's European "presence" over the last 30 years...

 

[Ruperts Trooper]

Not sure that the gas-hybrid instead of diesel will work; but anything is better than Cadillac's European "presence" over the last 30 years...

Cadillac Europe needs low emissions versions - it can be whatever GM is good at, doesn't have to be a specific technology.

 

[JBsZ06]

Diesels for european sales is important.

 

[70eldo]

Diesels for european sales is important.

Even Infiniti got that

 

[Ruperts Trooper]

But they'd need to be good diesels to compete at this sort of level - Range Rover have just announced their 2015 model year upgrades, the middle of their 3 big diesels, a 3.0V6 twin-turbo now gives 302 bhp / 700 Nm but with improved economy so the large (by European standards) Range Rover Sport is rated at 40.4 mpg Imp and 187 g/km CO2 - the much lighter, more aerodynamic ATS can only manage 276 bhp, 33.6 mpg Imp and 195 g/km.

GM's decision to abandon their involvement in VM Motori's new 3.0 V6 diesel will cost them dearly over at least a decade.

 

[zl-1]

Cadillac Europe needs low emissions versions - it can be whatever GM is good at, doesn't have to be a specific technology.

I agree, but the diesel offering carries weight, in perception terms. I'm not entirely convinced consumers would go for a hybrid versus a diesel even if the hybrid's FE were significant better than the diesel's.

 

[Oldsmobile stopped]

Offer both left hand and right hand drives globally = 33% increase in sales, a lot more in places like the UK that are more pro-American buyer closer to 50% of sales like RHD Ford of Europe & RHD Vauxhall enjoy in Europe.

Every car maker offers both LHD & RHD versions in Europe.

Cadillac is the only quality carmaker offers LHD only, and the cars are very expensive to buy, you get the steering wheel in the passengers seat and pay a lot more money for having the privilege of having the steering wheel on the incorrect side of the car in RHD UK. Lexus offer both LHD and RHD cars like every car maker, except for Cadillac.

Europe has to run its cars $9 gasoline at every fill-up, the 2.0L diesel is king 150 MPH BMW 320d returns up to 80.7 MPG, BMW 520d returns up to 72.1 MPG this is what Europeans want from Cadillac.

European sales 2013
LHD RHD BMW 639,656
LHD RHD Mercedes Benz 624,888
LHD RHD Porsche 44.423
LHD RHD Jaguar 26.969
LHD RHD Jeep 23.807
LHD RHD Lexus 23.708
LHD Cadillac 391

UK RHD Lexus sales seem to make up the lions share of Lexus sales in the EU with 12,000 UK sales.

RHD Lexus UK dealership (All cars are RHD only, most are part of a Toyota network)
London Area 7 dealers
South East 13 dealers
South West 7 dealers
East Anglia 4 dealers
Midlands 11 dealers
West Midlands 14 dealers
East Midlands 14
Wales 1
North West 7
North 11
Scotland 4

Total Lexus UK dealers : 93 dealers
LINK

Cadillac UK
LHD steering wheels fitted in passenger seat on all models, cost a fortune, run out of tune on $9 a gallon gas.

1 UK Cadillac dealership located in a Manchester slum where meth drinkers hang-out under the railway arches, in an area that makes a fun down area ghetto in Detroit look like a nice place to live, visit at night. This dealer is an American grey car importer that will import LHD Dodge Rams, LHD F-Series or basically anything LHD American, Cadillac are the only ones that boast it's there assault on the UK, European market in a rather pretentious way, to others it is just a US grey car Importer. into the UK.

Total LHD Cadillac dealers : 1


Mmmm l can't see where Cadillac are going wrong?




It's not rocket science - GM have a massive network of Opel/Vauxhall for God's sake use them like Toyota, who are a minor player in Europe, when Cadillac are established then go along act snobby with standalone dealers, at the moment Cadillacs are being sold next to Fiats, Fords, Mopars at it's one UK same shared Manchester UK dealership at the moment.

Cadillac roughing it on the cheap with/Fiat/Ford/Mopar Bauber Millet "1 shared" multi-brand dealership based in a run-down Manchester Ghetto area.
LINK

A 2.0L fuel efficient diesel is selling like hotcakes in BMW & Mercedes cars in Europe, 98% of BMW 5 Series sales are diesel in the EU, nobody can afford to run a 6.2L CTS or v8 Escalades on $9 EU gas prices, remove the steering from the passengers seat and fit it to the correct side in the UK market.

 

[afako]

But they'd need to be good diesels to compete at this sort of level - Range Rover have just announced their 2015 model year upgrades, the middle of their 3 big diesels, a 3.0V6 twin-turbo now gives 302 bhp / 700 Nm but with improved economy so the large (by European standards) Range Rover Sport is rated at 40.4 mpg Imp and 187 g/km CO2 - the much lighter, more aerodynamic ATS can only manage 276 bhp, 33.6 mpg Imp and 195 g/km.

GM's decision to abandon their involvement in VM Motori's new 3.0 V6 diesel will cost them dearly over at least a decade.

Isnt the Caddy Gasoline engine?

The Ingenium outclasses the Germans. Where does Cadillac stand with their new family of Modular Engines?

 

[Ruperts Trooper]

I agree, but the diesel offering carries weight, in perception terms. I'm not entirely convinced consumers would go for a hybrid versus a diesel even if the hybrid's FE were significant better than the diesel's.

Making a choice between conventional diesel and petrol/gasoline hybrid is difficult because the buyer has to evaluate the type of journeys they undertake - long-haul and/or towing favours diesel but short-haul, particularly urban, favours hybrid.

I suspect that many more Europeans would buy Lexus RX 450h if their usage patterns were different.

Cadillac needs options in Europe - at present they only offer poor economy petrol/gasoline models - I'm sure that economy could be improved by tuning the engines "properly" for Europe, not a redesign, not component changes, but just a good remap.

 

[Ruperts Trooper]

Isnt the Caddy Gasoline engine?

The Ingenium outclasses the Germans. Where does Cadillac stand with their new family of Modular Engines?

Yes, Cadillac only offers petrol/gasoline engines in Europe, that's the problem - all the other premium manufacturers offer diesels or hybrids so that customers don't have to buy a high consumption engine if they don't want.

No-one has road tested a JLR vehile with Ingenium yet - hopefully it will be better than the Germans but JLR won't expect them to stand still, neither should GM.

 

[Sox]

Mmmm l can't see where Cadillac are going wrong?

Neither can anyone at the RenCen. Maybe if they hire a brilliant outsider. I believe Joel Ewanick isn't doing anything.

 

[mgescuro]

Cadillac Europe needs low emissions versions - it can be whatever GM is good at, doesn't have to be a specific technology.

Ain't that the truth!

 

[richmond2000]

Making a choice between conventional diesel and petrol/gasoline hybrid is difficult because the buyer has to evaluate the type of journeys they undertake - long-haul and/or towing favours diesel but short-haul, particularly urban, favours hybrid.

I suspect that many more Europeans would buy Lexus RX 450h if their usage patterns were different.

Cadillac needs options in Europe - at present they only offer poor economy petrol/gasoline models - I'm sure that economy could be improved by tuning the engines "properly" for Europe, not a redesign, not component changes, but just a good remap.

also the TAX/ insurance/CO2 ratings play a big role and I thought the "breaks" Diesels got where coming down in favour of "PURE" EV drive cars and even VOLTEC was NOT considered an EV

 

[Sox]

Cadillac Europe needs low emissions versions - it can be whatever GM is good at, doesn't have to be a specific technology.

Let's face it. Japanese consumers hate diesels and buy hybrids only. Europeans hate hybrids and buy diesels only. If the steering wheel is in the passenger seat no one on this planet will buy the damn car even if it has a power source off the Starship Enterprise.

What was it you said GM and Cadillac are good at? I don't see them delivering either hybrid or diesel (or RHD) for that matter. Ever. Hmmmm. Zero out of 3. Forever.

BTW, mileage matters, not just emissions. Is everyone on this thread on crack? Forget Europe. Entirely. Success is about people, process and product. If the product isn't there the rest is irrelevant. EUROSPEC CADILLAC PRODUCT ISN'T THERE AND WON'T BE. EVER. Put down the pipe and concentrate on winnable wars. Like North America and China.

 

[Ruperts Trooper]

BTW, mileage matters, not just emissions.

Mileage and CO2 emissions are directly related, arithmetically - in Europe the other toxic emissions are dealt with by limits imposed by ever-tightening standards.

 

[Ruperts Trooper]

also the TAX/ insurance/CO2 ratings play a big role and I thought the "breaks" Diesels got where coming down in favour of "PURE" EV drive cars and even VOLTEC was NOT considered an EV

In the UK, the annual VED "disk" and first-year surcharge is based on CO2 and the "benefit-in-kind" Income Tax for company cars is also based on CO2 but it has little effect on insurance.

As I understand it the Chevrolet Volt, sold in UK as Vauxhall Ampera is a hybrid, which covers plug-ins - EVs have no IC engine.

 

[AMERICA 123]

Total joke - all in the preframe.

Lexus in Europe is a great lesson.......... arguably the very best ........ in what not to do with a 'premium brand'.

Including with unlimited funding for a long stretch to start, and then with far more than GM could / can come up with @ this time for this activity.

In all ways possible starting with lousy fundamental engineering x10, and then lousy PT programs including the lack of diesel.

Or Diesel / Hybrid of many sorts.

Best Cadillac lessons do not require any kind of an example...... what is required is more like fourth grade commons sense ....... but if you want to do that any way, then all the lessons you need are @ 'VAG', 'BMW', 'MB', 'FCA' - and you can best your ass and the farm that one really does matter plus well, all others in an up and down sense over a large historical sweep - including Ford Europe, Vauxhall, and Opel....

 

[asrapid1]

Isnt the Caddy Gasoline engine?

The Ingenium outclasses the Germans. Where does Cadillac stand with their new family of Modular Engines?

Which new family of Modular engines?
There might be a new family of Modular engines for Cadillac but maybe there won't be. If it gets a new engines it will probably be at the end of this decade...lots of things can go wrong in the meantime.