Lexus Quietly Pulls Plug On Its Cheapest EV In Australia

Lexus has pulled the plug on its smallest electric SUV, the UX300e, marking a quiet end to a model that never quite gained traction in Australia.

It’s the latest signal that Lexus is recalibrating its electrification strategy, with plug-in hybrids and mid-size EVs now in sharper focus.

▶️MORE: Lexus UX 300e Specs & Features

No Comeback Planned for Now

The UX300e was quietly removed from the Lexus Australia website, and the company has confirmed it’s been discontinued locally due to “production restrictions on selected parts.”

When asked if the UX300e could return once supply issues ease, Lexus Australia said there are “no plans at this stage” to bring it back.

It’s a swift exit, considering the model received a substantial update less than two years ago which included a bigger battery and upgraded infotainment.

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Sales Never Took Off

Lexus only sold 28 UX300e units in Australia by the end of April this year, despite a hefty $80,000-plus price tag and recent improvements like a 72.8kWh battery with up to 450km WLTP range.

Compare that to 614 hybrid UXs and even 54 units of the larger RZ electric SUV sold in the same period

Even in 2023, when the updated UX300e first landed, it sold just 92 units. It was outsold not just by its larger electric sibling (RZ: 215), but also by its main rivals like:

• BMW iX1: 2618 units
• Volvo EX30: 2129 units
• Mercedes-Benz EQA: 1044 units

Despite its premium positioning, the UX300e struggled to stand out.

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Spec Sheet Looked Decent on Paper

The UX300e’s facelift brought meaningful upgrades: a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, Lexus' newer infotainment interface, and a decent 450km driving range. Power remained steady at 150kW/300Nm via a front-mounted motor, but the lack of a dual-motor AWD variant put it at a disadvantage compared to competitors.

The model served as an electric offshoot of the UX range, which launched in 2018 originally as a petrol and hybrid lineup. The petrol-only UX200 was phased out in favour of electrified variants.

However, with Toyota now launching a new-gen C-HR and even previewing a small EV SUV (the C-HR+), a revamped UX could be around the corner. That said, there’s been no sign of UX prototypes testing yet.

▶️MORE: What are LFP, NMC, NCA Batteries in Electric Cars?

Lexus EV Lineup Looks Thin

With the UX300e gone, Lexus now offers just one battery-electric model in Australia: the mid-size RZ SUV.

That’s a stark contrast to other premium rivals:

• BMW: 7 electric models
• Mercedes-Benz: 7 (excluding vans)
• Audi: 4
• Genesis: 3
• Cadillac: 1 (with 2 more coming by 2026)

On the PHEV front, Lexus is set to offer two once the RX450h+ arrives, matching Audi and beating Genesis and Cadillac, though still behind BMW’s four.

But where Lexus truly dominates is in hybrid powertrains—offering eight different hybrid models, the most of any luxury brand in Australia.