Lexus Drops Full EV Plan, Will Push Hybrids and EVs Together

【PCauto】In Q3 2025, Lexus announced a major shift in its electrification strategy. The brand will no longer aim for an all-electric lineup by 2035. Instead, it will take a more flexible path, rolling out hybrids and EVs side by side.

Lexus Developing Electric Coupe as LFA Successor

Insiders say the design takes cues from the Lexus Electrified Sport concept shown in 2021. The car is expected to make its debut in late 2026. The concept promised solid-state batteries, a 700 km range, and 0-100 km/h in under three seconds, turning plenty of heads in the industry. Whether the production model will match those numbers is still unclear.

The timing lines up with the planned end of production for the V8-powered LC 500.

Lexus Shakes Up Sedan Lineup

The next-generation ES sedan, one of the brand’s best-sellers, is already on sale in China and Europe. It will reach the US in the second half of 2026 with both hybrid and all-electric options.

The IS 500 with its V8 is set to end production in 2025, though the hybrid version will stay on sale in North America.

In a bigger surprise, the RC and RC F sports cars will be dropped entirely with no replacements planned. Lexus has yet to share any plans for the future of its flagship LS sedan.

Lexus Plans Major SUV Updates

The entry-level UX will get a full redesign in 2026, but its all-electric version will be dropped. The mid-size NX and RX are set for mid-cycle refreshes in 2028. The rugged GX and LX will be updated around the same time.

Lexus will launch its first three-row electric SUV in 2027, likely based on the Electrified SUV concept shown in 2021.

This year, the current RZ EV will get a major update, adding simulated gear shifts and a steer-by-wire system. An F Sport high-performance model is already set for a 2026 debut.

Lexus Keeps Hybrids as BEV Adoption Varies Worldwide

Lexus global product planning chief Takahiro Fujimoto told reporters in Tokyo that EV adoption varies greatly by region, so the brand must stay flexible. In Europe, fully electric models make up 35% of Lexus sales, but hybrids still hold more than 60% of the market in North America and Southeast Asia.

A new report from the Toyota Research Institute says EV infrastructure will remain uneven globally through 2030, with Southeast Asia lagging the most.

The latest product shuffle will see about 20 billion yen (around 703 million MYR) in R&D funds reallocated.

While technical details of the 2026 LFA electric successor remain under wraps, President Akio Toyoda has confirmed he will personally oversee its tuning to preserve Lexus’ signature craftsmanship.