Lexus dealers pitch media account, TMS on alert
Media agency TMS is facing the loss of a significant part of Toyota media spend with dealers for car brand Lexus reviewing their account, Mumbrella can reveal.
The review of the Lexus dealer media account comes just weeks after the departure of TMS veteran Andrew Lamb from the agency.
“I can confirm that the dealer media buy business is currently under pitch,” said a spokesman for Lexus.
“As the process currently underway, there is little more detail I can offer at this time.”
According to Nielsen, Lexus spent $15.2m in the last 12 months on media however, the component spent by its dealers compared with the car manufacturer is thought it be under $10m.
The review is a major blow to TMS as Toyota, Lexus’s parent company, has been the foundation client of TMS. CEO of TMS Chris Mort declined to comment.
The decision of the Lexus dealers to review opens the door for Toyota’s Japanese management to review and potentially move further parts of the business.
Lexus is currently also reviewing its creative account with up to five agencies reportedly vying for main creative duties on the Lexus roster. Globally Toyota is alligned with Dentsu which raises the potential that one of Aegis’s agencies may be in line for the account.
At this stage the media agencies on the Lexus dealer shortlist are unknown.
Nic Christensen
25Ml in above the line maketing to sell 6920 vehicles in 2013 is that good value?
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@chris.. not good value, but its all priced into the cost of the car.. consumers end up paying for it
kinda like the huge marble foyers of big law firms – not needed but makes those buying the high paid services feel like they are getting quality
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@chris…you sound close to the action 6920 exactly! wow! maybe the sales and dealers should start a little training session, boost those numbers, don’t let them walk out the door without a deal, blaming marketing doesn’t work mate….its either a lemon or it isn’t!
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