Priced from RM 1.1m , over 20 Malaysian tycoons bought the Lexus LM, 10 more paid for Kiriko glass in LS

Long ago, I once met the head of Lamborghini’s global sales. Naturally, I asked him how does one sell a Lamborghini. Said person recounted an experience when he was on a boat with this billionaire client, and the conversation diverted to how much it cost to maintain the yacht, irrespective of whether it’s being used or not.

The smooth sales person later pointed to the Murcielago (this was many years ago) that was parked by the pier doesn’t even cost nearly as much. And that was how a Lamborghini Murcielago was sold.

"Money is just a number," is a saying that common folks will never understand.

Said Lamborghini representative also asked me if I know what's my bank account's balance, I said "Of course," only to be told "Well then you're not rich enough, because the super rich's bank accounts' change daily, so they don't know what's the balance, which is also why they need someone to manage their finances." 

Which brings us to the Lexus LM 350 seen here. It costs RM 1,106,513. Those who don’t understand the mind of a superrich will ridicule the LM as nothing but a glorified Toyota Alphard, with lesser seats too! Only 4, versus 7 in the regular Alphard.

Also read: Malaysia launches 2021 Lexus LM 350 - 3x an Alphard's price, but seats just 4

To put things in perspective, a Lexus LM 350 is worth nearly three Toyota Alphards 3.5L (from RM 446,609), more if it’s compared against the cheaper Toyota Vellfire 2.5L (from RM 367,881).

What kind of a person pays 3 times the price to get more or less the same thing but with a Lexus badge and a snazzier interior?

The answer: the kind of person who gives a call to a bank to extend a credit line worth a million Ringgit. That, or he takes his tens of millions in his account to another bank.

When your assets include high rise buildings and a super yacht, you don’t apply for a 9-year loan. Banks will line-up to give you cash at super low interest rates. Buying a million Ringgit car is super easy.

If you take a RM 100,000 loan and default on it, the bank comes after you. But if you have taken RM 50 million loan from a bank and your business goes under, the bank has little choice but to extend you another RM 5 million to restructure the business, or nobody gets anything once the business goes under.

Again, money is just a number.

Lexus Malaysia has confirmed that over 20 units of the Lexus LM were sold in 2021. To be specific, it’s actually over 20 units in 8 months, since the Lexus LM was only launched in Malaysia in April 2021.

Lexus declined to give a specific figure, but we know it's definitely more than 20 but less than 25 units.

Also read: Regular Malaysians won’t understand - Nearly 20 orders collected for RM 1.1 mil Lexus LM 350

So how does one sell a Lexus LM? That’s a story for another day, although I do know of a Lexus sales advisor who sold a Lexus LS not by offering a test drive to the tycoon client, but to his driver.

“Ah, you can bring the car to my driver. If he likes it, I will place an order. He does most of the driving anyway,” was his reply.

For reference, a Lexus LS 500 starts at RM 1,023,629. Add the exquisitely handcrafted by Japanese Takumi’s Kiriko glass door trim, it becomes RM 1,304,768.

Since the new LS was announced for Malaysia in February 2021, more than 10 customers have paid over RM 280k extra - nearly enough for a new W206 C-Class - for the LS Executive Kiriko variant.

The Executive Kiriko variant also adds the Lexus LS' signature hand-folded pleated door trims - an art piece not available even on a Maybach S580.

And that is the profile of a Lexus customer. They don’t ask for discounts, neither do they walk into showrooms.