Toyota Cancels Lexus LFZC Electric Sedan Development Ending Gigacasting Technology Ambitions to Focus Resources on Volume SUV and Hybrid Models
Toyota has made the decision to cancel the development of the all electric Lexus LFZC sedan. The move will stop what was considered one of the most exciting premium model developments from the company and the sedan was designed to become one of the flagship technology vehicles within Lexus new generation of electric luxury cars.
In the concept phase of its development, the car was designed to be a demonstration of new manufacturing techniques and battery technologies. Its design called for gigacasting architecture, where the entire car chassis is composed of large metallic sections cast in one piece, thus reducing the weight and complexity of the vehicle. Its software would utilize an AI assistant on the new Arene operating system to control the cabin features and the car would have a high density battery and its own electric driveline that was stated to double the range of conventional electric cars currently in the marketplace.
The timeline for the production of the sedan was moved twice while in development. After missing both projected delivery dates to production, Toyota has decided to pull the plug completely on the sedan. The decision to halt the sedan shows that even the major automotive manufactures are reevaluating production pipelines based on changing market demand for the premium electric sedan.
Official reports from Toyota state that the company is shifting away from the engineering and financial effort required for the low slung sedans. Instead, their effort will focus on more volume oriented sport utility vehicles and hybrid powertrain vehicles. Toyota denies that this move will in fact lead to them abandoning the electric vehicle market completely, but rather simply reprioritizing to high volume and high margin segments with continued consumer demand.
