Lexus is reportedly delaying its next-generation electric vehicles (EVs), citing strategic considerations. Originally slated for production by 2026, Lexus’s parent company, Toyota, wants to postpone the launch of next-generation Lexus EVs until 2027. This will keep the Lexus RZ – the brand’s not-so-popular EV despite its pretty attractive pricing – in the market for another few years.
Lexus
Founded in 1989, Lexus is a premium automaker created by Toyota as a rival to Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Its first model, the Lexus LS, became renowned as a true S-Class rival at a fraction of the cost and is known as one of the most reliable cars in the world. Subsequent models from the brand have achieved equal fame, including the IS, RX, and LX. With global sales of 824,258 cars in 2023, Lexus has become a prime example of how a start-up can enter the premium space and succeed, something few rivals have managed since.
- Founded
- 1989
- Founder
- Eiji Toyoda, Toyota
- Headquarters
- Nagoya, Japan
- Owned By
- Toyota Motor Corporation
- Current CEO
- Takashi Watanabe (President)
According to the Japanese publication NHK, the move was to give Toyota more time to incorporate the latest technologies in EV production. NHK added that the next-gen Lexus EVs will be made using giga-casting technology, a vehicle production process championed by Tesla, to save time. Toyota’s gigapress is reportedly capable of making a third of a vehicle within three minutes instead of several hours using the traditional car-making method. A new operating system will also be used in the new EVs.
The Next-Generation Lexus EVs
The next-generation Lexus EVs are not a guessing game at this point. The automaker revealed two production-bound EVs at last year’s Japan Mobility Show, namely the LF-ZC (Lexus Future Zero-emissions Concept) and the LF-ZL (Lexus Future Zero-emissions Luxury). The LF-ZC (depicted above) is a sleek four-door with a claimed range of 600 miles and a charging time of 10 minutes when equipped with Toyota’s solid-state battery technology arriving in 2027.
Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.
Related
10 Ways The Lexus GR GT3 Will Put Lexus Back On The Performance Map
Lexus is serious about its motorsports credentials with a road-going GT3 car and a customer racing program.
Meanwhile, the LF-ZL concept represents the brand’s aspiration for a luxury electric SUV. Positioned as a future flagship offering, this EV emphasizes spaciousness, opulence, and cutting-edge connectivity features, with a body that’s longer and wider than the Lexus LX. Toyota promises 745 miles of range with the LF-ZL when equipped with its upcoming solid-state battery.
Toyota Is Now Collectively Taking Its Time
The delay in Lexus’ EV production goes in line with the strategy announced by Toyota earlier this year. The largest Japanese automaker said it’s slowing down its EV adoption, even slower than it already is. The production of the US-spec Toyota EVs will also be delayed, citing high development costs and the unpredictability of EV adoption rates, though this new holdup could mean further delay by a few years.
Related
Toyota’s Big Hybrid Gamble Is Paying Off
Choosing not to go all-in with EVs was risky, but the strategy is working.
Toyota and Lexus EVs in the US are not popular right now. As of September 2024, Lexus has only moved 8,381 units of the RZ, while Toyota has only sold 13,577 units of the bZ. However, the automaker is focusing on selling hybrids instead of EVs, and this delay aligns with the automaker’s holistic approach to saving the environment.
Source:
NHK
News Summary:
- Not-So-Popular Lexus EV Will Stay In The Market Longer Than It Should
- Check all news and articles from the latest Tech updates.
- Please Subscribe us at Google News.