Toyota sells its Prius hybrid at a rate of more than 150,000 units per year, but the Japanese automaker’s Lexus luxury division has laid out a much more conservative sales estimate for its dedicated hybrid model. Lexus announced earlier this week that it plans on selling about 25,000 examples of its HS 250h during the vehicle’s first 12 months on the market.
The HS 250h represents the luxury segment’s first hybrid-only model and will compete in the entry-level class. Lexus feels there is tremendous potential for such a model, but has modest expectations for the HS 250h’s first 12 months on the market.
“More than 60 percent of entry luxury sedan buyers said they would consider hybrids, and this is a segment nobody’s in right now,” Mark Templin, group vice president of the Lexus Division for Toyota North America, told Automotive News.
Although the HS shows some promising potential, a weakened economy and lower gas prices will likely keep the hybrid from becoming an instant sales success. However, the economy is expected to rebound by year’s end and gas price could shoot back up to 2008 levels in the near future, so HS 250h sales could post stronger than expected numbers. Toyota plans to sell 180,000 units of its all-new Prius in its first 12 month on the market, so the potential for stronger numbers is definitely there.
