Lexus Canada’s Mark Tangelbear discusses the brand's innovative direction following the Japan Mobility Show, highlighting bold concepts like a six-wheel luxury vehicle and a three-wheel pod. The conversation explores how Lexus is adapting to Canadian consumer preferences for larger vehicles and personalized luxury experiences. Tangelbear also touches on the potential introduction of the ultra-luxury Toyota Century brand in Canada and the importance of Canadian manufacturing in Lexus's global strategy. The episode offers insights into the future of luxury mobility and the evolving expectations of younger buyers.
Aquilina leaves GM Canada; Volvo safety head on regulations; VW gets Supercharger access. Plus, Director of Lexus Canada Martin Gilbert talks about the Lexus LS Concept, the Century luxury brand, how luxury brand extensions get consumers and dealers engaged, and more.
"In manufacturing news, taking the best of vehicle safety standards from Europe and North America to create a unified set of rules would mean safer cars on both continents..."
It means making sure cars in different countries follow the same safety rules so everyone is protected.
The process of aligning vehicle safety regulations across regions to ensure consistent protection for drivers and passengers.
"In the JD Power 2025 Canada dealer financing satisfaction study, contact us today at 1 8.5 TD Auto 1 to find out how we can support you every step of the vehicle buying journey."
JD Power is a company that surveys car buyers to see how happy they are with their dealers. One of their reports looks at how good dealers are at helping customers get car loans and financing.
JD Power is an independent research firm that conducts studies on customer satisfaction, including dealer financing services. Their annual study ranks dealers based on how well they serve customers during the financing process.
"Lexus desire to really push the boundaries in regards to future of personalized mobility, either from six-wheel luxury space to a three-wheel pod to even air with the drone and the catamaran."
It means cars that can change to fit what you like, like having your own personal ride that knows your style.
Personalized mobility refers to transportation solutions tailored to individual preferences, such as custom interiors, adaptive driving modes, and integrated digital services.
"Would you expect a bespoke brand like this to sell through your dealer network or perhaps through a dedicated team, what do you, how do you envision it if in fact comes to Canada."
A bespoke brand makes cars that are specially built just for you, with unique features and designs.
A bespoke brand offers custom, personalized vehicles tailored to individual customer preferences, often with limited production.
"Well, there's many. The first one is obviously our continued evolution towards electrification or multi-patterary approach."
Electrification means cars use electricity instead of just gasoline. Lexus plans to make more electric or hybrid cars so they’re cleaner and cheaper to run.
Electrification refers to the shift from internal combustion engines to electric or hybrid powertrains in vehicles, aiming for lower emissions and improved efficiency.
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Relationships are at the heart of everything we do, and we pride ourselves on providing you with the award-winning satisfaction you've come to expect from us. Thank you for rating TD Auto Finance Number 1 in dealer satisfaction among non-captive, non-prime lenders with retail credit for the 8th year in a row. Contact us today at 1-855 TD Auto 1 to learn more about our award-winning satisfaction. For JD Power 2025 award information, visit JD Power
JD Power dot com slash awards. Hi everyone and welcome to the November 14th 2025 episode of the Automotive News Canada Podcast. I'm your host Greg Lason, the digital and mobile editor at Automotive News Canada. Coming to you from just outside Windsor, Ontario, the Automotive Capital of Canada. Today on the show we hear from director of Lexus Canada, Mark Tangel Bear. He recently spoke to Automotive News Canada publisher Tim Demopoulos to spoke at the Japan
Mobility Show in Tokyo. Joe Bear talks about the LS concept, the century luxury brand, how luxury brand extensions get consumers and dealers engaged and more. Lexus as usual always been at the forefront of design and innovation. So all the concept that we showcase this week at the Japan Mobility Show really reflect Lexus desire to really push the boundaries. But first, a look at some of the top Canadian Automotive stories of the week.
Christian Aqualina is leaving General Motors Canada, the current CEO has been named Global Vice President of Cadillac. The 28-year employee of GM will start his new job January 1st, until then Aqualina will continue to oversee GM Canada. A replacement will be named later. GM North America President Duncan Aldred said Aqualina's background in international sales and marketing will help support Cadillac's resurgence globally.
In manufacturing news, taking the best of vehicle safety standards from Europe and North America to create a unified set of rules would mean safer cars on both continents, that according to head of Volvo cars safety, Asa Haglund says Haglund, there are areas where the US standards are stricter than the European ones and then there are other areas where European ones are stricter than the US.
Let's compare them and let's apply the strictest one to all markets. The recent trade war and trade talks between the US and European Union have put safety regulations in the spotlight and increased calls for more harmonization. Haglund says roads around the world might have unique attributes, but the outcome of crashes is the same. So she asks, why would we have different standards?
Finally, in EV news, Canadian owners of Volkswagen ID4 electric crossovers and ID bus electric micro buses will soon have access to Tesla superchargers. Volkswagen Canada says drivers will be able to access the North American network of 25,000 chargers beginning November 18th.
They will need a Volkswagen approved adapter compatible with the North American charging system.
The Tesla connector is the most common on the continent because the company has the most EV sales and the biggest charging network.
ID bus sales totaled 597 through the first three quarters of 2025, the first year in which it was available in Canada.
ID4 sales stood at 3872, that's down 50% from a year ago.
And that's a look at some of the top Canadian automotive stories of the week.
Coming up, we hear from director of Lexus Canada, Mark Tangelbear.
Lexible full spectrum and focused on the future of this great industry with over 1 million customers served in relationships with over 6,100 dealers nationwide.
We pride ourselves on our competitive programs, digital solutions, and award winning satisfaction.
We're committed to making it easy to finance a vehicle and grow your business anywhere, anytime.
Thank you for rating TD Auto Finance number one in dealer satisfaction among non captive non prime lenders with retail credit eight years in a row.
With your continued support, we were also recognized as number one in dealer satisfaction among non captive prime lenders with retail credit.
In the JD Power 2025 Canada dealer financing satisfaction study, contact us today at 1 8.5 TD Auto 1 to find out how we can support you every step of the vehicle buying journey.
For JD Power 2025 award information, visit jdpower.com slash awards.
Welcome back to the automotive news Canada podcast. I'm your host Greg Lason. We now hear a conversation, which was had at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, between automotive news Canada publisher Tim Demopoulos and director of Lexus Canada, Mark Tangelbear.
The LS has been the heart of Lexus since the brand's launch at the Japan Mobility Show. We saw radically different LS concept, including a six-wheel luxury vehicle and three-wheel personal pod.
From your perspective, what do these bold designs say about where Lexus is heading, and how do you see Canadian customers responding to that kind of innovation?
Lexus, as you know, always been at the forefront of design and innovation. So all the concept that we've showcased this week at the Japan Mobility Show really reflect Lexus desire to really push the boundaries in regards to future of personalized mobility, either from six-wheel luxury space to a three-wheel pod to even air with the drone and the catamaran.
We're pushing the boundaries of luxury to answer your question. What does it mean to Canadians? Well, Canadians have always been very big fans of the Lexus innovative space in regards to design in vehicle technology, and this just continues.
We're looking at making luxury very personalized, and it's a very exciting time, obviously, as we really develop that ecosystem of luxury mobility.
The Mobility Lexus is talking about moving from a luxury sedan to a luxury space, like you mentioned. How does that translate to Canadian customers, especially as a taste shift towards bigger vehicles like SUVs, electric models, and more experiential forms of luxury, and how do dealers play a part in kind of conveying that message as well?
That's a very good question. The transition from luxury sedan or passenger vehicle in the luxury space is moving. Consumers are expecting something else, more than just basic transportation. They're looking for innovative space, better connectivity, always obviously that reliability and future focused feature that Lexus is known for.
This is just moving forward, really, in that space of luxury. Obviously, AI and technology will continue to play a very important role to make transportation even more unique to each individual.
This is a space that, obviously, we excel in, and what you've seen this week here in Tokyo, we're really pushing the boundaries of what the future personalized mobility is in regards to your question for dealers.
In our view, dealers will always be the cornerstone of what we call Omotanashi, which the expectations of delivering an exceptional guest experience, and they are going to continue to be, obviously, the experts in product in servicing our guests, and they're part of our business model moving forward.
We also saw innovative examples here at the Japan Mobility Show of Luxury Space Brand Extensions. You mentioned a few of them like Autonomous Luxury Catermans, Homes, Hobbes, and even passenger drones, which seem a bit scary, but do you think these will excite customers and dealers, and how do you trickle down all of this kind of innovation beyond the vehicle down to your constituents?
For us at Lexus, actually, we're seeing this going beyond personalized mobility. It's really building an ecosystem of luxury space, luxury benefits and values that consumer can relate to, and we're really pushing the boundaries of all type of mobility.
So it is a new space. We're not following anyone. We're really discovering. This is the theme that we have from our next chapters about discovery, and we're exploring all the facets that connects humans in style, elegance, and advanced technology.
So we'll see what the future will bring, but it is a very inspiring vision that Lexus has for the 21st century, and it's really exciting to be part of this.
For any brand success, even luxury, you have to be able to set your sights on a younger demographic or younger customers because if they're not in the market now to buy, they will be at some point.
Younger Canadian buyers have a different expectation around technology and design and sustainability. So how is Lexus adapting the message and its product experience to connect with the next generation of luxury drivers?
This is a full-time job. To always study the expectation of the new generation, the next type of luxury buyers is a constant evolution.
They are looking for more than just product and brand. They're looking mostly for technology that will enhance their life, mostly in that mobility space. They're looking for adventure. They're looking for things they can make personalized for them.
So they're looking for more experience and just mobility. And I think what we presented this week with the future technology, a future space that doesn't exist today, will connect with many of that young buyer.
It's an evolution that we're studying, we're staying very, very close. And it's about adapting to their lifestyle. And I think that we're in the right direction. And we're probably also going to be creating new trends in that luxury space.
We're probably also looking at gateway vehicles now with Lexus' lineup. It's a very broad lineup. Certainly a lot broader than it has been in the past.
Tell me a little bit about how Lexus is making luxury, perhaps accessible to people who aspire to the brand. And I want to get into the brand from a vehicle standpoint in terms of what's available in the lineup now.
So as we all though, 35 years in the making, Lexus has proved that we can produce very high quality vehicle with an amazing resell value.
We're fortunate in Canada that the majority of the vehicle that we're offering are built in North America in particular in Canada are tough to selling vehicles.
So in regards to core luxury mobility, we proved ourselves. We also proved ourselves in the upper echelon of mobility, LS being their flagship that started the brand, the LFA, which is the iconic supercar.
So we also define ourselves at capable brand in the luxury space. So as we move forward, we know that we're very strong with our core volume luxury space is we want to have an evolution of the brand is like moving maybe a little bit more upscale offering other type of mobility still in the passenger vehicle, all type of passenger vehicle, but we're looking to explore and continue to expand our offerings in that luxury space.
Let's talk about ultra luxury now, century has launched here at the trend mode or ability show. Now that Toyota century brand has stepped into the actual ultra luxury space, do you think there could be a market for that kind of vehicle or kind of a brand in Canada.
Would you expect a bespoke brand like this to sell through your dealer network or perhaps through a dedicated team, what do you, how do you envision it if in fact comes to Canada.
So first we're extremely excited that Toyota century brand is tipping into the global ultra luxury space. I think it offers amazing possibility to elevate our offerings.
There is more and more bespoke offers or a desire in market in Canada, North America globally, and we do have a product that has generations and decades of leading that space exclusively in Japan, but it is the true expression of Japanese craftsmanship at the ultimate level.
Combine that with the experience that we offer already within in dealer or in retail through our dealer network, it, it offers some very interesting possibilities to enter your question.
We are studying the application or the integration of century into the North American network.
It will take a little while before we decide if there's a business model, but we fully understand the consumer expectation in that space.
We just need to make sure that we can bring forward the right solution if, if we ever decide to bring century into Canada.
For more questions, Canada has become an important test bed for hybrid technology and luxury vehicle demand.
How does feedback from Canadian customers influence Lexus's global strategy or product line?
Very good question. Actually, Tim, Canada is a very important market for Lexus globally. We are the fourth largest market in the world.
We've been leading obviously into entry-level segment like the SUV, like the RX, obviously.
RX being built in Canada, all will drive or leadership in the hybrid technology.
A lot of those early demand for these products were generated here in Canada.
Obviously, we have influence, and it's a very important market. We're very pleased to be at the table when decisions are being made or we can influence global direction for the brand.
It's a role as a distributed Canada.
So, if you look at being number four globally in terms of Lexus sales, do you think the fact that manufacturing Canada plays a part in that success that sales success that you see where people are looking to buy homegrown luxury rather than luxury that's imported from other markets?
More than ever, it does. Actually, with the current situation, we're seeing more and more demand for Canadian made product.
It is not new. We've been manufacturing vehicle for decades here in Canada, we're the largest car manufacturing Canada, and the only luxury car manufacturing Canada.
It does play a role, but ultimately, it goes back to the quality of the product.
A product that we bring to market that is relevant to the desire of the Canadian consumers, delivered and supported by one of the best dealer network in the industry, that's what makes a difference.
So, finally, as you look ahead to 2026 and beyond, what excites you personally most about where the Lexus brand is headed, both globally and also in Canada?
Well, there's many. The first one is obviously our continued evolution towards electrification or multi-patterary approach.
We're leader in electrified. We have the largest offering in electrified with our hybrids, plugins and BEV coming.
It's a very exciting time. We're continuing to push the boundaries of luxury, try to always improve the guest experience that they have, either with the brand or within the retail network.
And yeah, the new advancements coming into, in regards to technology, in vehicle technology, and ensuing life of our consumers, making vehicle more efficient, safer.
Is really a truly time for Lexus. It's the future is very bright.
I'd like to thank Mark Tam for his time and Tim for conducting the interview.
If you'd like to be a guest on the show, have a suggestion or simply want to comment, email me at glasonatautonews.com
And remember, you can listen to all our previous podcasts on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play or on our website, automotivenews.ca.
Just scroll to the podcast hub in the middle of our homepage. And don't forget, you can follow automotive news on X, where we're at auto news Canada.
And you can find me there too, under at glasonanc.
Finally, look for us on LinkedIn, just search automotive news Canada.
That does it for this episode of the automotive news Canada podcast. We hope you'll join us next time. So long everybody.
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