Will Lexus Malaysia Surprise Us With The UX 300e Electric Crossover?
Will the UX 300e be priced to rival the soon to arrive Volvo XC40 EV?
After years of being conservative with their product line-up, Toyota Malaysia in recent years have pushed their product planning team to introduce exciting vehicles that elevates the Toyota brand image in Malaysia.
It started with the futuristic Toyota C-HR Crossover in January 2018, then moved along to the Toyota Supra in July 2020 with the pocket rocket Yaris GR in December 2020 and then more recently we got behind the wheel of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid which is local assembled.
Yes, UMW Toyota has started assembling a hybrid in Malaysia and this marks the start of Toyota’s global electrification strategy which was unveiled at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.
Meanwhile, UMW Toyota who is also the brand guardian of Lexus in Malaysia will be launching new models to follow along the company’s global strategy.
Possibly the first full electric Lexus to arrive in Malaysia will be the UX 300e. Already selling very well in many markets around the world, this compact SUV is the full battery powered model of the UX 200 (petrol powered) which arrived in Malaysia in early 2020.
Arriving to challenge the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Volvo XC40, the fully imported UX 200 had a selling price dis-advantage as there were no tax incentives for imported vehicles in Malaysia. Priced from RM243,888 to RM299,888 the rivals were somewhat cheaper as they were local assembled (gets tax incentives).
Now with the recent Malaysian government announcement on the removal of all import taxes on electric vehicle, the Lexus UX 300e electric powered compact SUV might be priced at RM220,000 to RM250,000 or so with full features included.
The Lexus all-electric UX 300e crossover comes steeped in Japanese influences which are evident both in its sophisticated design features and in the way it is built by Lexus’ famed ‘Takumi’ master craftspeople.
The UX 300e is Japan’s first all-electric luxury car and further strengthens Lexus’ lead in developing alternative drivetrains based on an unmatched 15-year electrification program and no fewer than 10 Lexus Self-Charging Hybrid models, several already with 4th generation hybrid drivetrains.
Lexus’ rigorous approach to quality is exemplified by the ‘Takumi’ craftspeople at its award-winning production facility in Kyushu. These modern-day artisans, their skills honed over a minimum of 15 years, are Japanese precision personified.
Their meticulous craft is present across every inch of the UX300e, from the intricate seat stitching to the beautiful hand-sanded paintwork to the attention to detail in the plant’s ‘Quiet Room’ facility, where the ‘Takumi‘ use their finely trained ears and fingertips to detect and rectify the minutest noise or vibration within the cabin.
This is the first battery electric vehicle (BEV) from Lexus.
The UX 300e’s high-output motor provides a natural-yet-brisk acceleration character, and the high-capacity batteries deliver a 400km-driving range. Combined with the newest connectivity technology, the UX 300e maximizes the advantages of BEVs while realising driving performance and convenience in a single package.
The Malaysian launch will be soon to take advantage of this tax incentive and the growing interest among premium car buyers for electric vehicles.
Its closest rival will be the soon to arrive Volvo XC40 EV which is scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2022 and with a selling price that might be higher than the Lexus UX 300e. Why? Well its UK selling price is higher than the UX 300e by almost RM40k plus.
We will have to wait and see what happens in the coming months.
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