Lexus AustraliaHybrid Milestone
LEXUS AUSTRALIA DELIVERS 50,000TH HYBRID VEHICLE
Lexus has achieved a significant milestone in Australia by becoming the first luxury car manufacturer to deliver 50,000 hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs and PHEVs).
Lexus, which broke new ground with the introduction of Australia’s first luxury hybrid-electric vehicles in 2006, has now delivered a remarkable 51,013 hybrids to Australian customers (including 820 PHEVs), as well as 658 fully electric BEVs.
Electrified vehicles represented a record 60.4 per cent of Lexus sales in Australia last year, growing to a new high of 75 per cent at the half-way point of 2024.
This reinforces Lexus as the undisputed leader in the premium and luxury segments for the highest mix of electrified sales amongst brands offering a full lineup of hybrid, all-electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
Lexus Chief Executive John Pappas said the latest milestones represent crucial steps towards the company’s local goal of having a line-up of purely electrified – HEV, PHEV and BEV – vehicles in 2030.
The ultimate global vision is for Lexus to sell BEVs exclusively by 2035.
“As a disruptor brand since our inception almost 35 years ago, Lexus has continued to redefine the concept of luxury with our renowned focus on customer experience and the pioneering of intelligent technologies,” Mr Pappas said.
“We continue to anticipate, stimulate and meet demand for luxury vehicles that are great to drive and assist our customers to reduce their carbon footprint while enjoying the unrivalled benefits and luxury experience of owning a Lexus,” he said.
Australia’s best-selling luxury hybrids are SUVs: the Lexus NX Line with 14,192 sales and the RX Line with 13,042 customer deliveries. In 2024, the leaders are the NX range (2,004), the RX line-up (806) and the recently launched LBX (670).
In every model that continues to offer the choice of hybrid or petrol-only variants, most customers are selecting a hybrid – including 90 per cent for the ES sedan and more than 75 per cent for the RX SUV.
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Powerful, yet fuel-efficient Lexus HEV technology is offered on the ES, LBX, LC, LS, LM, NX, RX and UX Lines. PHEV is also available with the NX 450h+ while the first two Lexus BEVs are the UX 300e and the RZ 450e. All up, Lexus offers 32 electrified grades across 11 models.
Customer acceptance of Lexus electrified vehicles has accelerated rapidly over time with Lexus continuing to invest heavily in electrified technologies, while simultaneously educating consumers about the benefits.
It took Lexus more than seven years to sell the brand’s first 10,000 hybrid-electric vehicles while the most recent 10,000 hybrids were driven out of dealerships in less than 18 months. All of this was achieved without government incentives or legislation.
In Australia, the Lexus electrification story began in 2006 with the arrival of the GS 450h luxury sedan and the RX 400h, the latter recognised as the world’s first luxury hybrid SUV. These vehicles were the culmination of years of research and development.
Selected notable steps on the Lexus Electrified journey1:
| 2006: | Lexus introduces its first hybrids to Australia, the GS 450h luxury sedan and the RX 400h luxury SUV. |
| 2007: |
Lexus reimagines the executive express luxury sedan with the local introduction of the flagship LS 600hL – the world’s first V8-powered hybrid. Lexus delivers its 1,000th hybrid luxury vehicle in Australia. |
| 2009: | Lexus Australia extends the hybrid battery warranty to 8 years/160,000km. |
| 2011: | The CT 200h, the world’s first compact luxury hybrid vehicle, arrives in Australia. |
| 2013: |
A new-generation IS goes on sale locally, offering a hybrid powertrain for the first time with a system output of 164kW and fuel consumption of just 4.9 litres/100km.2 The first ES 300h arrives. Lexus delivers its 10,000th hybrid luxury vehicle to local customers. |
| 2014: | The NX line debuts in Australia, featuring the NX 300h – a game-changer for Lexus. |
| 2015: | The NX 300h becomes the most popular electrified Lexus in the range, going on to average more than 1,000 deliveries four years in a row. |
| 2016: | Lexus delivers its one millionth hybrid globally. |
| 2017: |
Lexus Australia marks the sale of its 20,000th hybrid luxury vehicle – less than four years after the first 10,000 were sold. The new Lexus LC 500h becomes the first luxury Lexus to usher in sporty electrified performance with the thrill of open-top motoring. |
| 2018: |
Lexus points to the future, unveiling the LF-1 Limitless Concept crossover at the North American International Auto Show – a car designed for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, full battery, ICE and fuel-cell mobility. The compact UX SUV arrives late in the year, featuring the hybrid UX 250h. |
| 2019: | The edgy LF-30 Concept is revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show – the first Lexus BEV with AWD powered by electric motors on all four wheels. |
| 2020: | Lexus celebrates 30 years in Australia with one-third of all Lexus sales this year being hybrid. The local cumulative total passed 30,000 hybrid-electric vehicles. |
| 2021: |
Lexus launches its first BEV in Australia, the UX 300e. The global brand’s electrified vehicle sales pass the two-million mark. |
| 2022: | Lexus introduces its first PHEV locally, the NX 450h+ with up to 87km of driving range with zero-tailpipe CO2 emissions.3 |
| 2023: |
The fifth-generation RX debuts the most advanced hybrid powertrain available to Lexus customers, the 273kW RX 500h F Sport Performance. The 230kW RZ 450e, purpose-built as a BEV, becomes the local company’s second fully electric vehicle. Mid-year, Lexus delivers its 40,000th hybrid-electric vehicle in Australia. Lexus showcases two next-generation BEV concepts at the Japan Mobility Show – the LF-ZC (Lexus Future Zero-emission Catalyst) and the LF-ZL (Lexus Future Zero-emission Luxury) flagship. A production version of the LF-ZC is targeted for 2026. Lexus brings the Electrified Sport to Australia for LANDMARK by Lexus at the Melbourne Cup Carnival, showing its vision for an exclusive all-electric sports car. Close to year’s end, Lexus redefines the chauffeur-driven experience, launching the LM 350h and LM 500h offering the ultimate in personal luxury and hybrid powertrains. Lexus Australia achieved a full-year record electrified share at 60.4% of its total sales. |
| 2024: |
Lexus redefines compact luxury and driving efficiency with the arrival of the LBX, featuring a three-cylinder hybrid unit sipping just 3.8 litres/100km4. Electrified vehicles now account for more than 75 per cent of local volume (YTD June) as Lexus marks its hybrid and electrified sales milestones. |
