Hybrids dominate European Lexus sales
Click the Lexus LS600h for a high res gallery
Lexus has announced that they sold 16,800 vehicles with Lexus Hybrid Drive (aka Hybrid Synergy Drive) in Europe in 2007, their best performance yet. Toyota's premium brand is dominating the premium hybrid segment in Europe. Not hard to do considering they are the only manufacturer offering premium hybrids. Thirty-eight percent of all the Lexus models sold in Western Europe last year were hybrids, up from twenty-six percent in 2006. Interestingly the LS600h has accounted for fifty-six percent of LS sales since its launch in July. Here in the U.S., the LS600h accounts for well under ten percent of sales. Similarly, the RX400h accounts for eighty-six percent of RX sales in Europe while, here they were only about seventeen percent last year. Given the relative disinterest in hybrids in Europe, these numbers seem unusual.
[Source: Lexus]
Lexus Hybrid Drive sales continue to grow
• Lexus continues to lead the premium market with hybrid technology. In 2007, 16,800 vehicles with Lexus Hybrid Drive were sold in Europe.
• 70,000 tonnes quantifiable reduction in CO2 emissions (*) in Europe due to Lexus Hybrid Drive sales.
Lexus Hybrid Drive
Lexus remains the only premium manufacturer offering hybrid technology. The Lexus Hybrid Drive range consists of the RX 400h, the GS 450h and the flagship LS 600h. In 2007, Lexus has sold 16,800 Lexus Hybrid Drive vehicles in Europe, up from 13,200 units in 2006.
Lexus' full hybrids, such as the LS 600h with its 165 kW electric motor, offer exceptionally powerful performance with greatly reduced emissions. They even allow for emission-free electric driving, for instance in urban environments.
Lexus Hybrid Drive has proven a major attraction for European buyers. In 2007, 38% of all Western-European Lexus customers have opted for Lexus Hybrid Drive, up from 26% in 2006. Of the RX and GS ranges respectively, 86% and 55% of vehicles sold featured Lexus Hybrid Drive. Since the LS 600h went on sale in July, it accounts for 56% of LS range sales.
Since introduction in 2005, European Lexus Hybrid Drive sales have saved over 70,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (*).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
b33gee 5:20PM (2/27/2008)
I am genuinely surprised. Obviously these people aren't going for economy because there are plenty of better looking Diesels available in the same class.
Reply
Carlos Ferreira 7:08PM (2/27/2008)
Well, I'm not, considering Lexus only has one Diesel, in the LS. All other cars have gas guzzlers, which are not competitive here in Europe. So, people who want a Lexus, go for the hybrid! Simple, it's a fuel consumption thing, not environmental concern.
As for the fact that there are a lot of smarter diesels in the competitios, that's true. That's why the competition sells a lot more cars than Lexus! It's a niche brand in the premium segment, the article doesn't mention Lexus' market share in those segments.
Carlos Ferreira
http://www.greencarvalue.blogspot.com
Reply
mattypape 7:09PM (2/27/2008)
Im pretty sure most sold in the uk where because of parking charges, tax and congestion charge avoidence rather than been good to the environment.
Also i dont think that europe hasnt fallen for the "by driving a hybrid you are saving to planet" attitude that many america seems to have adopted.
But when are we going to see hybrid diesels emerging?
Reply
mattypape 7:11PM (2/27/2008)
**Has** not hasnt, sorry
Reply
psarhjinian 12:37AM (2/28/2008)
Hybrids do very well in Europe's congested urban centres (the regen-braking and idle-stop are great), and they're an especially attractive option given how much ground-level pollution diesels put out.
Been in a major European city during a humid summer? The air quality is nasty and the prevalence of diesel has a lot to do with it.
Reply
nagmashot 3:01PM (2/28/2008)
Hybrids doing well in Europe? What kind of gras do you smoke? Hybrids hold less than 0.5% of the europen market... Mercedes sold more cars a month in Germany (27,000) as Lexus sells Hybrids all over Europe in one year...
Hybrids are not the future..
pasrhijnian you post a lot of BS knowning absolutly nothing about cars, diesel and EUrope!!!!!!
The air quality in Europe is MUCH better than the quality in the USA.. every UN statistic about environmental pollution prove you wrong in EVERY point.. Sweden and Germany were award by the UN as the two nation doing by far the most for environmental protection. The biggest polluter on this planet is the USA.
Reply