High demand and strangled supply for the Lexus NX450h+ has led to the brand suspending new orders for the plug-in hybrid SUV and instead taking only expressions of interest.
The company says the move will allow its dealers to focus on delivering vehicles to customers who have already placed orders.
It also refers to this as a “temporary action” which doesn’t affect the other members of the NX range – the petrol NX250 and NX350 and hybrid NX350h – as the company says it expects “substantially better deliveries in coming months” for these variants.
It also notes it expects arrivals to be “stronger for other models in our range”.
“We were pleased to deliver 230 units of the NX 450h+ in 2022,” said Lexus Australia chief executive John Pappas.
“While arrivals this year are expected to increase by approximately 50 per cent, the PHEV’s popularity has resulted in delivery dates that now stretch into 2025.
“In order to ensure each customer’s experience with Lexus is always delivered in the best possible way, our dealers will now accept expressions of interest for the NX 450h+ so we can achieve a markedly better balance between supply and demand.
“We understand the situation is disappointing to our customers and we thank them for their patience and understanding.
“We can assure all our customers that we are continuing to work tirelessly with our global production teams to secure additional vehicles for Australia.
“Lexus dealers are playing a remarkable role in communicating openly and transparently with customers about their individual orders and ensuring vehicles are delivered as quickly as possible.”
Lexus says sales of electrified NX models have exceeded 1000 units since the range arrived early in 2022.
In calendar year 2022, Lexus delivered 230 examples of the NX450h+ PHEV alone. Total NX sales were 3362, though it’s unclear how many previous-generation models are included in this tally.
Lexus says hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles accounted for 46.3 per cent of its sales in Australia last year.
The brand, like its parent Toyota, has been grappling with supply issues in recent times as COVID lockdowns in China affected the brands’ supply chain.
Toyota has been forced to cut production and close orders for high-demand vehicles like the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, as well as the aforementioned plug-in hybrid Lexus NX450h+.
MORE: Everything Lexus NX
