The Japanese automaker may be by far the biggest seller of hybrids in the US, but it still wants to increase hybrid sales from its Lexus luxury badge.
Lexus, whose hybrids account for about 10 percent of its US sales, is looking to move that number closer to its global average – about 20 percent – Automotive News reports, citing Lexus executive Kazuo Ohara. The path to increased hybrid sales might be paved with the introduction and updates of models such as the ES 300h sedan. As it is, through September, Lexus increased its US hybrid sales by 36 percent compared to 2011 numbers, to almost 26,000 vehicles.
Lexus has priced the ES 300h hybrid with just a $2,750 price premium over the conventional version. The hybrid gets a fuel-economy rating of 40 miles per gallon combined.
