Lexus to Tap Toyota Customer Base in India, Deepens Multi-Fuel Play: Hikaru Ikeuchi

Lexus has officially entered India’s luxury EV space with the ES 500e but unlike its German rivals, the brand isn’t rushing into an all-electric future. In this video interview with Autocar Professional's Prerna Lidhoo, Hikaru Ikeuchi, President of Lexus India, explains why the company is taking a measured, multi-pathway approach to electrification balancing hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs based on customer demand. Priced at ₹89.99 lakh, the ES 500e brings a 580 km claimed range, AWD capability, and a new Lexus design language. But the bigger story lies in Lexus’ strategy prioritising customer choice over aggressive EV expansion.

The discussion examines the Lexus ES 500e in detail, unpacking its specifications and market positioning while placing it within Lexus India’s broader strategy. It explores why hybrids continue to remain central to the brand’s approach in the country, even as electrification gains momentum, and analyses how Lexus intends to compete with established German rivals such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.

The interview also delves into the company’s distinctive “guest-first” philosophy and boutique retail model, while assessing whether the Indian market is truly ready to embrace luxury EVs at scale. Ultimately, it raises a key question: could Lexus’ measured, slow-and-steady EV strategy prove to be the smarter play for India?

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