Lexus quietly shelves its first electric car, the UX 300e
Lexus has quietly pulled the plug on its first fully electric model, the UX 300e. Launched in 2019, it was meant to usher the Japanese premium brand into the electric era with confidence. Instead, it leaves the stage as a reminder that timing and technology matter just as much as intent.
The UX 300e never quite found its stride. Sales remained modest and, more critically, the car struggled to keep pace with rapid advances in battery technology and charging infrastructure. Now Lexus is clearing the decks for a new generation of dedicated electric platforms.
Built as a compromise
The core problem lay in its origins. The UX 300e was not conceived as a pure electric vehicle. It was adapted from the combustion engined UX, and that decision brought unavoidable physical and practical limitations.
Packaging constraints restricted battery size and interior space. Efficiency suffered. What looked like a sensible shortcut in 2019 quickly became a handicap as rivals introduced purpose built EV architectures with better range, faster charging and more flexible layouts.
Charging standards only compounded the issue. While Europe and the United States coalesced around the CCS2 connector, the early UX 300e persisted with CHAdeMO for DC rapid charging. Finding a compatible charger on the public network could turn into a scavenger hunt.
The original 54.3 kWh battery delivered a real world range of roughly 250 to 300 kilometres under WLTP conditions. That might have sufficed for urban commuting, but it hardly inspired confidence for longer journeys. In 2023 Lexus fitted a larger 72.8 kWh battery, improving range on paper, yet by then competitors such as the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 had already reset expectations for both efficiency and charging speed.
Even after the update, DC rapid charging remained limited. On extended trips, charging stops could stretch longer than drivers had bargained for. In a market moving at breakneck speed, that was enough to relegate the UX 300e to the margins.
Focus shifts to the RZ era
Retiring the UX 300e does not signal a retreat from electrification. Quite the opposite. Lexus is concentrating its efforts on the RZ line, built on the dedicated e TNGA platform developed specifically for battery electric vehicles.
More powerful RZ 500e and 550e variants are due in 2026 and 2027, featuring a new 77 kWh battery and improved efficiency. The brand is also preparing a fully electric saloon, expected in 2027 and widely tipped as a spiritual successor to the IS. Built using the new Gigacast manufacturing method, it promises a range of up to 1000 kilometres, at least according to early projections.
Within the UX family, the spotlight now rests on the UX 300h self charging hybrid. It proved far more popular, thanks to its reliability and fuss free ownership experience, qualities that remain central to the Lexus appeal.
Lexus still backs its electric models with a 10 year battery warranty, so existing UX 300e owners are not being left in the cold. Yet as the brand’s first electric experiment fades into history, it is hard to ignore the likelihood that used values may soften more quickly than those of the hybrid versions.
Every manufacturer needs a first attempt. Some age gracefully. Others clear the path for something better. The UX 300e belongs firmly in the latter camp.
