Lexus records hybrid and electric sales growth in Australia

Lexus has revealed that hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles have accounted for almost half of its Australian sales in 2022.

According to Lexus Australia, 47.6 per cent of the vehicles it has sold year-to-date featured electrified powertrains – up from 38.8 per cent in 2021 – with the growth led by the new-generation NX medium SUV.

This is equivalent to 2133 of the 4473 vehicles it has sold in Australia to July 31, with the NX recording 1064 registrations in NX350h hybrid and NX450h+ plug-in hybrid guise, despite supply constraints.

Overall, the hybrid NX range represents 53 per cent of total NX sales year-to-date, while sales have already exceeded the 992 hybrid units sold by the end of 2021.

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As reported, the NX hybrid is proving popular locally, with wait times stretching to mid-2023 for the flagship NX450h+ plug-in model.

The launch of the second-generation NX has coincided with a local sales milestone for the brand’s top-selling vehicle, with more than 25,000 cumulative sales (25,382 to July 31) since the nameplate first launched in 2014.

Meanwhile, Lexus has recorded 389 sales of the RX450h and RX450hL – more than half (59 per cent) of total RX hybrid sales for 2021 – and 55 sales of the all-electric UX300e small SUV.

The luxury marque claims it has “strong orders on hand” for its first EV, which launched in Australia in late 2021.

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Hybrid powertrains are available across the broader Lexus line-up, with the UX, ES, LC and LS offering electrification, while Lexus is gearing up for the global launch of its ground-up electric vehicle, the RZ crossover.

A local launch for the RZ, which is related to the Toyota BZ4X and Subaru Solterra, remains under evaluation, with further information expected in the coming months.

Lexus plans to “introduce at least 20 new or renewed models globally by 2025 - most of which will be electrified,” spearheaded by the RZ and the new-generation Lexus RX.

The fifth-generation RX will launch in Australia next year with three hybrid powertrains on offer.

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To the end of July, VFACTS data reveals Lexus has recorded 4473 sales in Australia, a 27.5 per cent decrease over the same period in 2021. Its most popular model is the NX, with 2019 sales (-1.4 per cent), followed by the RX (1004, -16.2 per cent) and UX (680, -38.6 per cent).

As with parent company Toyota, Lexus has been impacted by significant delays caused by the semiconductor chip shortage, which continues to affect the entire automotive industry.

“We apologise to affected customers and thank them for their loyalty and patience as we work to address this challenge,” said Lexus Australia chief executive John Pappas.