Toyota's Lexus Plans To Launch Electric Vehicles In China

Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp TM is speeding up efforts to launch its first battery-operated Lexus vehicles by 2020, according to The Nikkei Asian Review. 

The luxury vehicle division is working toward launching its first all-battery electric vehicle in 2020.

The Japanese automaker first announced its plans to launch electric vehicles specially designed to suit the Chinese market in November at the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition.

China Aims For Higher EV Sales 

Toyota's move is in sync with China’s intent to boost electric vehicles sales.

China estimated last week that its new energy vehicle sales could account for 25% of all car sales by 2025, up from a previous target of around 20%, according to Reuters. 

The world’s largest auto market is facing challenges of late after the Chinese government cut support for its electric vehicle makers in June. The country’s electric vehicle sales fell four months in a row in October.

But a strong brand reputation and hybrid technology could still position Lexus as one of the leaders in the Chinese EV market, along with Volkswagen AG/ADR VWAPY and Tesla Inc TSLA, according to Nikkei Asian Review. 

Tesla is set to market its first batch of Shanghai-made cars in January 2020. Volkswagen said in November that it would invest more than $4.4 billion in China in 2020, with 40% of the investment being in the EV segment. 

Photo courtesy of Lexus.