Lexus electric cars

Toyota's premium division, the first Japanese luxury brand to bring a battery-electric model to Australia (the UX 300e in November 2021), now repositioning its RZ electric SUV with steep price cuts to compete harder on value.

Lexus launched globally in 1989 after a decade-long internal Toyota project (codenamed 'F1', begun 1983) aimed at rivalling the European premium marques. Lexus International, which coordinates the brand worldwide, was long headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi before relocating within Aichi Prefecture to Shimoyama in 2024.

Lexus brought its first battery-electric model to Australia, the UX 300e small SUV, in November 2021; a 2023 update lifted its battery from 54.4kWh to 72.8kWh and range from 315km to 450km WLTP. The dedicated RZ mid-size electric SUV followed, and was repositioned in 2026 with dramatic price cuts (the entry RZ 500e Luxury down over $36,000 to $84,500; the Sports Luxury down $42,000 to $91,000) alongside a revised 74.7kWh battery (up from 71.4kWh, 460km WLTP) and a new RZ 550e F Sport (77kWh, 300kW dual-motor, steer-by-wire yoke, $105,000) — with a limited RZ 600e F Sport Performance (313kW) flagged for late 2026. Lexus also sells the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid SUV in Australia (a cheaper 'Luxury' PHEV grade added September 2025) and, from April 2025, an RX 450h+ PHEV.

premium/luxury, aggressively repricing its BEV range for volume

Battery-electric: UX 300e small SUV, RZ mid-size SUV (500e, 550e F Sport, with a 600e F Sport Performance flagship due late 2026). Plug-in hybrid: NX 450h+ and RX 450h+ SUVs (not new-BEV-research scope this run).