EV Milestones: Lexus Sells Two-Millionth Electrified Vehicle
Lexus EV production reduced cumulative C02 emissions by 19 million TONS since launching the 400h in 2005.
It all started with a mid-size crossover. In Japan, it was the Toyota Harrier. In North America, the Lexus RX, where it was Lexus’ best-selling model. (Interestingly enough, the Harrier / RX was actually the world’s first mid-size crossover.) Lexus debuted its first electrified vehicle, the hybrid RX 400h, in the US in 2005 as a 2006 model-year vehicle.
Now, some 16 years later, Lexus proudly surged past TWO MILLION cumulative global electrified vehicle sales in April 2021. The result? A 19 million ton C02 emissions reduction
Balancing Performance & Sustainability
The Lexus mission of “balancing excellent driving performance with environmental sensitivity” is certainly going according to plan. With a fleet of nine electrified models, Lexus now boasts that 33% of its 2020 global sales were electrified. And, by 2025, Lexus intends to manufacture 20 models total, including at least 10 BEVs, PHEVs, and HEVs.
Ultimately, Lexus hopes to offer electrified options across its entire lineup. With such an achievement, reaching its goal of full carbon-neutral status by 2050 should be rather easy.
Aside from environmental responsibility, Lexus aims to further improve the drivability and enjoyment of its lineup. In other words, even as they move to electrification, they don’t want to reduce the driving experience (or performance).
To do this, Lexus developed the Direct4 four-wheel-drive system, which not only lowers the vehicle’s center of gravity (battery in the floor, motors in the axles). But it can also be tuned to act as a front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, or four-wheel drive system depending on various driving models, safety features, and vehicle needs. (We’re very excited to try it.)
Lexus Electrified Vehicles Sales by Region (2005 to April 2021)
- Global: 2.02 million units
- U.S.: 540 thousand units
- Europe: 480 thousand units
- China: 387 thousand units
- Japan: 401 thousand units
- East Asia: 138 thousand units
- Others: 74 thousand units
Lexus Electrified Vehicle Sales By Model
- RX: 518 thousand units
- ES: 384 thousand units
- CT: 372 thousand units
- NX: 285 thousand units
- UX/UXEV: 137 thousand units
- IS/LS/RC/LC and others: 324 thousand units
Photos: Lexus