The inaugural event of Lexus India’s maiden showroom in Andhra Pradesh, named Lexus Meraki near Mangalagiri, marked a noteworthy achievement on Monday. Leading the inauguration ceremony were Naveen Soni, President of Lexus India, and M. Harshavardhan, Principal Dealer (Vijayawada) for Lexus Meraki. This facility incorporates local inspiration through eco-friendly Kondapalli Toys, a traditional craft unique to the region. The space will not only showcase Lexus cars but also provide a coffee lounge and present the ES Crafted Collection.
In a subsequent media interaction, Naveen Soni underscored the substantial growth potential within the domestic luxury car market. Despite being a newcomer in the Indian luxury car segment, Soni highlighted Lexus’s unique positioning, focusing on delivering a distinctive lifestyle experience to customers, referred to as ‘guests.’ This approach sets Lexus apart from direct competition with established players such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes.
Soni stated, “Against this backdrop, in spite of being a late entrant into the luxury car segment in India, luxury car manufacturer Lexus is well-positioned to make its mark by virtue of the lifestyle experience it provides to its customers (whom the company calls ‘guests’) rather than compete with the dominant players from Germany namely Audi, BMW and Mercedes in the luxury mobility space as such.”
Lexus Meraki marks the fifth lifestyle space for the company in India, following the successful establishment of similar facilities in Gurgaon, Coimbatore, Pune, and Calicut. It goes beyond being a mere luxury car display; instead, it is conceived as a ‘lifestyle space’ aiming to provide visitors with unmatched comfort and experiences.
Naveen Soni delved deeper into India’s luxury car market, highlighting that sales, which peaked at 42,000 units in 2018, temporarily dipped to 18,000 in 2019-20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the market has made a robust recovery, and this year’s projections anticipate reaching 43,000 units, driven by a substantial increase in demand.
In discussing Lexus cars, Soni emphasised the company’s dedication to sustainability, revealing that 99% of its existing product lineup comprises hybrid vehicles. He unveiled Lexus’s ambitious aim to transition into a fully Battery-Electric (BE) carmaker by 2035, coinciding with the recent introduction of two BE cars at the Tokyo Motor Show. These high-end BE vehicles boast an impressive range of 1,000 km on a single charge cycle.
