Whats keeping Lexus Away from the Indian Markets?

Each month you hear Mercedes and BMW say sales have overshot expectations by a huge margin.BMW now say they could well achieve 10000 units per annum by 2010 easily[and then you will again hear they have exceeded this target].Its the same with the others as well be it Mercedes,Volvo,Audi.

Then why does one of the hottest brands as far as the Premium badge is considered prefer to stay away from the Indian markets.Yes Lexus has well and truly been accepted as a luxury brand throughout the world and its no different here in India.We have imports here in the Indian market and the SUV's especially seem to be quite popular.Why does Toyota want to deprive itself from one of the hottest markets.Even the Camry which is imported from Japan and attracting those huge duties is still doing pretty well considering its ridiculously high price in the Indian market.So the excuse that a Lexus imported as a completely built unit will not attract customers does not real stand firm ground.And surely if BMW and Mercedes can do it so can Lexus it too should start assembling cars in India there is definitely a big enough enough market in India.

Toyota is simply giving the first mover advantage to these already well established brands and letting them set up a good enough network in India.This was the best time to catch these big boys on the back foot no point taking them head-on when they are well established in India[leaving aside Mercedes which is already well established and the darling of the premium car buyers in India].

But then isn't this the case with the whole Toyota brand in India.It is ridiculous that Toyota just has two vehicles in the mainstream market in India[4 overall in India] after more than 10 years in the Indian market.Yes Toyota is approaching the Indian market with caution after the DCM Toyota fiasco but does it really have to be so extreme.We know you have some of the best vehicles for markets like ours,but please get them here first.

[Image source:Wikipedia]

Also read:
Lexus to be sold in the Indian markets soon