Lexus not only hit a new annual sales record in Australia in 2023, it also outperformed other markets globally when it comes to hybrid and electric vehicle sales.
The company says 60.4 per cent of its sales in Australia last year were of “electrified” vehicles, which by its definition includes hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric models.
In contrast, electrified vehicles accounted for 47 per cent of its sales globally.
Lexus sold 824,258 vehicles globally in 2023, an increase of 132 per cent over the previous year.
A total of 15,192 of these were sold in Australia, up 58 per cent. Of this figure, 8377 were hybrids, 415 were plug-in hybrids, and 378 were electric vehicles (EVs).
“Last year was extraordinary. And I chose that word pretty deliberately, but it was far from a normal year last year, not only for Lexus but for the wider industry. 1.2 million for the industry, I don’t think that’s normal,” Lexus Australia CEO John Pappas told CarExpert.
“I don’t think [the sales figures] reflected the current demand. Instead, they measured the ability of the brand to supply and deliver vehicles, basically.
“But you know, the numbers were very impressive, no doubt. A significant portion of those customers ordered their vehicles a very long time ago in many cases and moving into this year, we’re definitely seeing a much better balance between supply and demand.
“And as a result, we’re forecasting that industry sales we think will stabilise around 1.05 to 1.1 million this year. With the economy obviously and consumer confidence influencing that fundamentally.”
Lexus has committed to selling a fully electric range by 2035, but between now and then it will continue to offer a mix of internal-combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles.
It recently added another hybrid model with the LM people mover, and will add the also hybrid-only LBX crossover later this year.
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