TOP TALK

　　Sohu AUTO: In fact, this is a commonplace problem, after the Infiniti decided to domestic production, most people set their sight on Lexus. How are your considerations about this?

　　Lang Lixin: This question is often asked. I also want to look for some answers which are not commonplace to tell you, but now still no new one. I had explained and stated to the media that domestic production or not, just mean where the production base is. But if the point of view is different, the conclusions are also different.

　　As long as we master the market conditions sufficiently, where produce the brand is not important. In fact we buy a lot of brands, but did not consider its producing area, such as the LV, it does not have produced in China. The brand vitality and sense of presence embodied rely on their quality and service, which requires long-term to maintain.

　　Sohu AUTO: But the industry still believes that the sales-volume of Lexus is so great. If the domestic production come true, regardless of cost or after-sale may give the consumer more surprises.

　　Lang Lixin: On the other hand, about the domestic issues, my answer is that Lexus has never set the standard that which cannot domestic production. Just we have no specific timetable now, but the domestic production directionality is taken into account areas. As time goes on, and with the changes in the market, this issue will be possibility. Just do not say a certain period of a joint venture. We do not reject (joint venture). Or the old saying goes, everything is possible.

　　Sohu AUTO: Your defined 2012 as the first year of hybrid technology. We know that there are very successful promotion of Lexus hybrid technology auto in the United States, Japan and China Taiwan. After all the environment and consumers of China are different from them, how do you make the develop strategies for the Chinese market?

　　Lang Lixin: Five years ago Chinese mainland had proposed the development of energy conservation and new energy vehicles, but the pace of electric car actually did not step up. I personally think it is mainly directional problem. As alternative energy and new energy, pure electric can be a direction, but how to more effectively achieve this direction? The first stride maybe leads to fail. Sometimes we may need to step slow, in order to smoothly reach.

　　In this state, we can go first with hybrid technology route, and to achieve the pure electric. There must be a mature battery and motor technology. So realistically, we should start with the hybrid technology route.

　　This strategy has been proven in the market and customers are accepted too. The most direct results, 24% of the customers in total sales belong to the Lexus hybrid technology, and this figure nearly 25%. When I say this figure, many people do not believe it.

　　Sohu AUTO: You just mentioned that the hybrid technology conservative goal for 2015 is 50%, then what are the progressive goals of the past two years?

　　Lang Lixin: certainly more than 15% this year, 25% or 30% at the next year? I'm not sure. But I think we must do a good job this year, and make a good basis for future, then the next year will naturally have better upgrade.

　　Sohu AUTO: Nowadays, there is fierce price war in luxury auto market, how do you think of that? The Lexus pursuit high-volume of sales on the one hand, and keep profit on the another hand, and also need to maintain the high-end brand image at the same time, how do you balance these three relationships?

　　Lang Lixin: such as supply and demand situation, Lexus do a monthly plan, which is not only including the total number, but also the product configuration, color etc., and then monthly coordination. What’s more, the cycle of the Competing products are generally three months. The adjustment cycle is longer than us.

　　The Secondly, the auto distribution plan is not shoot forehead decided. Each month we have meetings with dealers for four or five times, mainly to discuss their sales plans and objectives.