Acura exec: TLX delay responsible for brand’s sales decline

The delayed market launch of the all-new TLX left Acura without sufficient sedan inventory in recent months, leading to the brand’s year-to-date sales decline, Acura senior vice president and general manager Mike Accavitti has revealed.

Originally slated to arrive in dealerships in May, Acura pushed back the TSX- and TL-replacing TLX’s on-sale date to late summer in order to make sure that the sedan – which the automaker touts as its most technologically advanced model yet – was properly sorted.

“We dialed back production of the outgoing models in anticipation that the TLX would be here a little bit sooner, and we literally sold out of the TSX and the TL,” Accavitti told WardsAuto, pointing to the delay as the primary reason behind Acura’s 1.8% volume dip during the first seven months of 2014.

The overall U.S. auto market grew 5.0% over the course of the same period, and rivals such as BMW (up 11.7%) and Audi (up 13.3%) seeing even larger gains.

The MDX was largely responsible for keeping Acura from sinking further, with volume up 55.5% through July; the RLX also rose 7.1%, although its sales remained modest.

With the TLX now available for purchase, Accavatti expects Acura to finish out the year on a high note.

“The back half of the year is going to be strong for Acura,” Accavatti said.

Photo by Mark Elias.