Acura's premium mid-size sedan, the TLX, is ceasing production, with the 2025 model year marking its final run. This move signifies a pivotal shift in Acura's product strategy, as the brand, like many others in the automotive sector, adapts to changing consumer preferences that increasingly favor Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and the burgeoning electric vehicle market. The decision stems from declining sales figures, prompting a reallocation of resources towards more lucrative segments and future-oriented vehicle development.

This discontinuation highlights a broader trend within the automotive industry where traditional sedans are losing ground to more versatile and often more profitable SUV segments. For Acura, this means streamlining its lineup to concentrate on models that resonate more strongly with contemporary buyers. The impending departure of the TLX, which has been a staple in the brand's luxury offerings for nearly a decade, underscores a strategic pivot towards electrification and a renewed focus on its SUV portfolio, alongside the compact Integra.

The End of an Era for Acura's Mid-Size Sedan

Acura's decision to discontinue the TLX sedan after the 2025 model year represents a significant moment for the brand and its long-standing commitment to the luxury sedan segment. Introduced in 2015 as the successor to the venerable TL series, the TLX aimed to capture a share of the competitive mid-size luxury market. Over its tenure, the TLX underwent updates, including a facelift in 2018 and a second-generation launch in 2021, demonstrating Acura's efforts to keep the model current and appealing. However, despite these efforts, the sedan has faced persistent challenges in maintaining sales momentum, particularly in an evolving market increasingly dominated by crossover and SUV demand.

The declining sales performance of the TLX has been a critical factor in Acura's strategic reassessment. In the first half of the current year, the company sold a modest 3,634 units, a stark contrast to its peak performance in 2015 when it moved over 47,000 units. The previous year's sales figures, which saw a 55 percent drop, further emphasized the urgent need for a strategic realignment. As a result, the Marysville, Ohio manufacturing plant, which currently produces the TLX alongside the Honda Accord, will redirect its focus. This shift is set to accommodate the production of new electric vehicles, including the forthcoming RSX electric SUV. This new EV is poised to be a cornerstone of both Acura and Honda's electric future, leveraging a dedicated new EV platform and signalling a transformative direction for the brand's manufacturing and product development priorities.

Acura's Strategic Shift: From Sedans to Electrification and SUVs

With the discontinuation of the TLX, Acura is clearly signaling its strategic intent to pivot away from a sedan-heavy lineup towards a future centered on SUVs and electric vehicles. This strategic realignment is a direct response to prevailing market trends and consumer demand, which have increasingly favored the utility, space, and perceived value offered by SUVs. The Integra will remain as Acura's sole sedan offering, emphasizing a concentrated effort on its SUV range, which spans from the compact ADX to the larger, three-row MDX. This move allows Acura to streamline its production and development resources, focusing on segments with higher growth potential and profitability.

The transition is not merely about shifting production from one model to another; it reflects a fundamental change in Acura's long-term vision, heavily influenced by the broader automotive industry's push towards electrification. The Marysville, Ohio facility, once a hub for traditional sedan manufacturing, is now being reconfigured to become a crucial component of Honda's new EV Hub. This transformation signifies a significant investment in electric vehicle technology and manufacturing capabilities. The production of the new RSX electric SUV at this facility, utilizing a brand-new dedicated EV platform, marks a definitive step into the electrified future for both Acura and its parent company, Honda. This strategic pivot ensures that Acura remains competitive and relevant in an automotive landscape rapidly moving towards sustainable and electrically powered mobility solutions.