Lexus Boss Says "Not Many People Will Accept" EVs With Current Battery Tech
09-26-17, 07:15 AM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Lexus Boss Says "Not Many People Will Accept" EVs With Current Battery Tech
http://www.carscoops.com/2017/09/lex...ople-will.html
Tesla received an astonishing 276,000 pre-orders for the Model 3 within three days of its unveiling but that hasn't stopped Lexus International President Yoshihiro Sawa from saying “not many people will accept” electric vehicles with current battery technology.
Sawa reportedly made the surprising declaration while talking to The Detroit Bureau but stated the company is indeed working on electric vehicle technology. However, he mitigated that remark by saying “We’ll introduce that kind of vehicle at a suitable time.”
The company's reluctance to embrace electric vehicles is somewhat surprising as the automaker offers hybrid versions of the CT, ES, GS, NX, RX, and LC. The company will also offer a hybrid version of the new LS and has previously offered hybrid-only models such as the HS.
Lexus don't seem concerned with the lack of electric vehicles and reportedly believes being late to the game won't really matter if their vehicle arrives with breakthrough technology.
In related news, the report says officials were open to adding a handful of new crossovers to the lineup. They wouldn't go into specifics but the publication says the company could offer a new entry-level crossover to slot beneath the NX as well as a large crossover to be sold alongside the off-road focused LX.
Tesla received an astonishing 276,000 pre-orders for the Model 3 within three days of its unveiling but that hasn't stopped Lexus International President Yoshihiro Sawa from saying “not many people will accept” electric vehicles with current battery technology.
Sawa reportedly made the surprising declaration while talking to The Detroit Bureau but stated the company is indeed working on electric vehicle technology. However, he mitigated that remark by saying “We’ll introduce that kind of vehicle at a suitable time.”
The company's reluctance to embrace electric vehicles is somewhat surprising as the automaker offers hybrid versions of the CT, ES, GS, NX, RX, and LC. The company will also offer a hybrid version of the new LS and has previously offered hybrid-only models such as the HS.
Lexus don't seem concerned with the lack of electric vehicles and reportedly believes being late to the game won't really matter if their vehicle arrives with breakthrough technology.
In related news, the report says officials were open to adding a handful of new crossovers to the lineup. They wouldn't go into specifics but the publication says the company could offer a new entry-level crossover to slot beneath the NX as well as a large crossover to be sold alongside the off-road focused LX.
09-26-17, 07:33 AM
#3
Lexus Champion
According to this interview, plug-in hybrids are coming to Lexus, but are still a few years out.
https://fleetworld.co.uk/lexus-model...end-of-decade/
https://fleetworld.co.uk/lexus-model...end-of-decade/
Shepherd also revealed that the brand will strengthen its hybrid offer with new plug-in variants in the next couple of years.
“We will bring plug-in hybrids through in time and I think that’s where the industry will go. We’ve already got our hybrids, so we’re safe in the interim, but some of our models will have a plug-in – although we can’t confirm specifically which ones yet.
“We will bring plug-in hybrids through in time and I think that’s where the industry will go. We’ve already got our hybrids, so we’re safe in the interim, but some of our models will have a plug-in – although we can’t confirm specifically which ones yet.
09-26-17, 07:38 AM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
According to this interview, plug-in hybrids are coming to Lexus, but are still a few years out.
https://fleetworld.co.uk/lexus-model...end-of-decade/
https://fleetworld.co.uk/lexus-model...end-of-decade/
09-26-17, 08:05 AM
#5
Lexus Champion
This is the Lexus version of Steve Ballmer's "a phone without a keyboard?" epic blunder.
09-26-17, 11:06 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
Tesla received an astonishing 276,000 pre-orders for the Model 3 within three days of its unveiling but that hasn't stopped Lexus International President Yoshihiro Sawa from saying “not many people will accept” electric vehicles with current battery technology.
Sawa reportedly made the surprising declaration while talking to The Detroit Bureau but stated the company is indeed working on electric vehicle technology. However, he mitigated that remark by saying “We’ll introduce that kind of vehicle at a suitable time.”
Sawa reportedly made the surprising declaration while talking to The Detroit Bureau but stated the company is indeed working on electric vehicle technology. However, he mitigated that remark by saying “We’ll introduce that kind of vehicle at a suitable time.”
09-26-17, 11:10 AM
#7
Lexus Champion
Lexus Boss Says "Not Many People Will Accept" EVs With Current Battery Tech
http://www.carscoops.com/2017/09/lex...ople-will.html
Tesla received an astonishing 276,000 pre-orders for the Model 3 within three days of its unveiling but that hasn't stopped Lexus International President Yoshihiro Sawa from saying “not many people will accept” electric vehicles with current battery technology.
Sawa reportedly made the surprising declaration while talking to The Detroit Bureau but stated the company is indeed working on electric vehicle technology. However, he mitigated that remark by saying “We’ll introduce that kind of vehicle at a suitable time.”
The company's reluctance to embrace electric vehicles is somewhat surprising as the automaker offers hybrid versions of the CT, ES, GS, NX, RX, and LC. The company will also offer a hybrid version of the new LS and has previously offered hybrid-only models such as the HS.
Lexus don't seem concerned with the lack of electric vehicles and reportedly believes being late to the game won't really matter if their vehicle arrives with breakthrough technology.
In related news, the report says officials were open to adding a handful of new crossovers to the lineup. They wouldn't go into specifics but the publication says the company could offer a new entry-level crossover to slot beneath the NX as well as a large crossover to be sold alongside the off-road focused LX.
http://www.carscoops.com/2017/09/lex...ople-will.html
Tesla received an astonishing 276,000 pre-orders for the Model 3 within three days of its unveiling but that hasn't stopped Lexus International President Yoshihiro Sawa from saying “not many people will accept” electric vehicles with current battery technology.
Sawa reportedly made the surprising declaration while talking to The Detroit Bureau but stated the company is indeed working on electric vehicle technology. However, he mitigated that remark by saying “We’ll introduce that kind of vehicle at a suitable time.”
The company's reluctance to embrace electric vehicles is somewhat surprising as the automaker offers hybrid versions of the CT, ES, GS, NX, RX, and LC. The company will also offer a hybrid version of the new LS and has previously offered hybrid-only models such as the HS.
Lexus don't seem concerned with the lack of electric vehicles and reportedly believes being late to the game won't really matter if their vehicle arrives with breakthrough technology.
In related news, the report says officials were open to adding a handful of new crossovers to the lineup. They wouldn't go into specifics but the publication says the company could offer a new entry-level crossover to slot beneath the NX as well as a large crossover to be sold alongside the off-road focused LX.
“Of course we’re developing EV technology,” said Lexus boss Sawa, before adding a note of caution. “We’ll introduce that kind of vehicle at a suitable time.”
Parent Toyota has announced that it will introduce a new electric vehicle in 2021, as part of a joint venture with Mazda. The new product – or products – will be built at an all-new assembly plant somewhere in the U.S., and it is expected to turn to a breakthrough battery technology known as solid-state.
That will come several years after most key competitors launch their own full-electric models – such as the Jaguar I-Pace and a new electric SUV from Audi. And it’s not even clear if Lexus will get a pure battery-electric vehicle of its own, at least not initially. On the other hand, if Toyota actually does come to market with solid-state batteries it will likely leapfrog the competition, that technology expected to lower costs, improve range and performance and sharply reduce charging times.
“Not many people will accept” current battery technology, asserted Sawa. If so, being late to market likely won’t matter – as long as Lexus does show up with a real breakthrough.
Parent Toyota has announced that it will introduce a new electric vehicle in 2021, as part of a joint venture with Mazda. The new product – or products – will be built at an all-new assembly plant somewhere in the U.S., and it is expected to turn to a breakthrough battery technology known as solid-state.
That will come several years after most key competitors launch their own full-electric models – such as the Jaguar I-Pace and a new electric SUV from Audi. And it’s not even clear if Lexus will get a pure battery-electric vehicle of its own, at least not initially. On the other hand, if Toyota actually does come to market with solid-state batteries it will likely leapfrog the competition, that technology expected to lower costs, improve range and performance and sharply reduce charging times.
“Not many people will accept” current battery technology, asserted Sawa. If so, being late to market likely won’t matter – as long as Lexus does show up with a real breakthrough.
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09-26-17, 03:59 PM
#8
Lexus Champion
We’ll introduce that kind of vehicle at a suitable time
09-26-17, 04:54 PM
#9
Lexus Test Driver
There are still huge parts of the world where an EV-leaning infrastructure doesn't get exist. Lexus still wants to sell to those areas. Unfortunately they're being way too conservative because setting up EV charging stations is a lot easier and faster than putting up gasoline or hydrogen stations. I applaud Tesla and Nissan for having the guts to try selling EVs to the general public while Toyota dithered and bet on stupid hydrogen fuel cells with even worse distribution issues.
09-26-17, 04:55 PM
#10
Lexus Fanatic
Or, just as likely, they DO have the technology, but not (yet) the production capacity for mass-market orders...and simply don't want to get into a position, like Tesla, where they are backed up 18 months or more on factory-orders.
09-26-17, 05:13 PM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Lexus could easily do plug in. I doubt they have any electric ready models. Their hybrids are so profitable is why they don't want to go that route. Funny how Tesla has no profit.
09-26-17, 05:50 PM
#12
Lexus Champion
Yea that would be awful it's way better to have stale inventory.
09-26-17, 06:27 PM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
Why? There is simply no demand or market for plug ins or regular hybrids in luxury market. Look how poorly they sell. It is a total waste of money and resources to offer plug ins.
09-27-17, 08:17 AM
#15
