Massive MayMilestonesfor Lexus
Massive May milestones for Lexus
Lexus celebrated two major milestones in May, delivering its 200,000th vehicle and marking 35 years since the brand launched in Australia as a disruptor in the luxury market.
On May 15, 1990, the first Lexus customer in Australia took delivery of the breakthrough LS 400 luxury sedan, a car that would later be acclaimed by motoring experts as the Car of the Decade.1
Fittingly, the 200,000th Lexus delivered is also a benchmark vehicle: the RX 450h+, the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the popular family SUV, the culmination of almost 20 years of Lexus expertise in pioneering hybrid powertrain technology.
Lexus Australia Chief Executive John Pappas says the month of May now holds even more significance for the carmaker that burst onto the Australian scene three-and-a-half decades earlier with the promise to redefine luxury.
“Lexus was born a disruptor. Our aim was to make luxury personal with an unrivalled and authentic ownership experience for every customer,” Mr Pappas said.
“At the same, Lexus set out to establish a new benchmark for vehicle quality through our famed Japanese Takumi craftsmanship and peerless attention to detail.
“We have not deviated from either commitment, which is reflected today in Lexus having the strongest customer loyalty2 and highest satisfaction of any luxury brand in Australia3.”
Lexus launched locally with a solitary model, the now iconic LS 400. Today, Lexus offers a suite of luxury vehicles across all key segments, with no fewer than 11 compelling models.
Lexus also offers customer a choice of intelligent powertrains – fully-electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), efficient and performance hybrids (HEV) and internal combustion engine (ICE) – each with their own performance characteristics to meet the diverse needs of each customer. This is the Lexus multi-pathway approach.
When the original Lexus LS 400 arrived in Australia in May 1990 it completely changed the definition of luxury.
The RX luxury family SUV immediately struck a chord with buyers when it arrived in Australia in 2003, and has since become a favourite model.
The 2006 GS 450h introduced powerful and efficient electrified luxury to Australian customers. Fast forward to 2025 and nearly four out of every five Lexus vehicles sold has an electrified powertrain.
The IS Line brought a new type of dynamism to the Lexus line-up, personified by the IS F, the first F-branded Lexus model.
Since arriving in Australia in 2014, the NX medium SUV has been the luxury lifestlye brand’s best-selling model every year since 2015.
The LBX Luxury and Sports Luxury hybrid city SUV showcases Lexus style and sophistication in its most compact form yet.
