Lexus has launched the RZ 450e, its first fully electric vehicle and its first step towards its sales electrification plan.
Toyota and its premium brand have fallen behind traditional rivals in electrification, but they want to change that with their first electric vehicles. The Toyota BZ4X was relaunched late last year, and now, its Lexus counterpart will also be coming to the U.S. market. The Lexus RZ 450e is set to take on the likes of the Tesla Model Y, BMW iX, and Mercedes EQE SUV.
The RZ 450e combines traditional Lexus design and its newest drivetrain technology. Based on the Toyota e-TNGA platform, the electric SUV features a dual motor drivetrain producing 308 horsepower and will excitedly take you to 60mph in 5 seconds flat. However, despite the all-wheel-drive setup, much like other Lexus vehicles, it remains front-biased, with a 150k W motor in the front and a smaller 60kW motor in the rear.
Paired with this dual motor setup is a 71.4 kWh battery, which will provide 220 miles of range on standard wheels or 196 miles on the larger wheel option. Luckily, despite this lackluster range, the Lexus will still charge relatively quickly, up from 0-80 percent in 30 minutes.
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- Credit: Lexus USA
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- Credit: Lexus USA
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- Credit: Lexus USA
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- Credit: Lexus USA
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- Credit: Lexus USA
Outside of the drivetrain, the RZ 450e brings much of what the premium Japanese automaker’s lineup has been known for, countless features. Most notably, while not entirely autonomously capable, Lexus fits its first-gen EV with a suite of autonomous features, such as traffic jam assist, dynamic radar cruise control, pre-collision detection, and lane tracing (tracking) assist. However, it should be noted that many of these features are only available through a subscription plan with Lexus.
Lexus is launching the RZ 450e at a starting price of $59,560, but it can be optioned up to $65,150. The company notes that the vehicle is “on sale in limited quantities” now in the U.S. but did not specify if more production will be allocated soon. The automaker wasn’t immediately available to comment to Teslarati on the number of vehicles coming to the U.S. market.
While the RZ 450e may have been relatively price competitive late last year, thanks to a series of price cuts from notable manufacturers, including Tesla and Ford, the premium Japanese automaker’s offering is substantially more expensive than vehicles like the Tesla Model Y (starting at $54,990), Ford Mustang Mach-E ($45,995), or even the Mercedes-Benz EQB ($54,500). This is to say nothing of the federal tax incentive, which Lexus sadly doesn’t qualify for due to its Japanese production location.
As Toyota looks to enter the EV market in the United States more profoundly in the coming years, it will need to work hard to battle costs to become more price competitive with traditional competitors and new market entrants alike. Though, if the company can find sales success with its first model, it may be more inclined to dedicate more wholeheartedly in the coming years.
What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!
Elon Musk
Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai
The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.
Tesla China sold 58,599 vehicles wholesale in February, reflecting strong year-over-year growth. The figure includes both domestic deliveries in China and vehicles exported to international markets.
The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.
Tesla’s February wholesale result represents a 91% increase year over year, compared with 30,688 vehicles in February 2025. Month over month, the result was down 15.2% from January, when Tesla China recorded 69,129 wholesale units.
The February total reflects combined sales of the Model 3 and Model Y produced at Gigafactory Shanghai. The facility produces the two vehicles for both domestic sales and exports.
Gigafactory Shanghai continues to serve as Tesla’s primary vehicle export hub, supplying vehicles to markets across Asia and Europe. Data compiled by Tesla watchers shows that 18,485 vehicles were sold domestically in China in January 2026, while exports accounted for 50,644 units during the same period.
Tesla has also been extending financing programs in China as it pushes to strengthen domestic demand. The company recently extended its seven-year ultra-low-interest and five-year interest-free financing programs through March 31, marking the second extension of the promotion this year.
The financing initiative was first introduced on January 6 as a strategy aimed at offsetting higher ownership costs ahead of China’s planned 5% NEV purchase tax in 2026. The promotion was originally scheduled to expire at the end of January before being extended to February and then again through the end of the first quarter.
Tesla’s efforts come amid growing competition in China’s EV market. According to data compiled by CNEV Post, Tesla’s 2025 retail sales in China reached 625,698 vehicles, representing a 4.78% year-over-year decline. Part of that decline was linked to the Model Y changeover to its updated variant in early 2025, which temporarily reduced deliveries during the transition period.
News
Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
Tesla’s upcoming Model Y L has been spotted on transport trucks in Australia. Sightings of the six-seat extended wheelbase Model Y variant have been reported on social media platform X by members of the Australian Tesla community.
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
The sighting follows earlier observations by Tesla enthusiasts in Sydney, where a covered vehicle believed to be a Model Y L was spotted at a Supercharger.
The Sydney sighting drew attention after observers noted that the vehicle’s tare weight appeared to match the ADR approval listing for the Model Y L, suggesting it could indeed be the extended wheelbase variant of the electric SUV.
Tesla has previously confirmed that the Model Y L will launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2026. The confirmation was reported by techAU following a media release from Tesla Australia and New Zealand.
The Model Y L expands the existing Model Y lineup with seating for six passengers. The vehicle features a longer body compared with the standard Model Y in order to accommodate a spacious second and third row.
Tesla has opted for a 2-2-2 seating configuration instead of a traditional seven-seat layout for the Model Y L. The design includes two individual seats in the middle row to provide easier access to the third row and additional passenger space.
Tesla Australia and New Zealand has also stated that the Model Y L will be covered under the company’s updated warranty structure beginning in 2026.
Tesla has not yet announced pricing or official range figures for the Model Y L in Australia.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
X Money is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Elon Musk has stated that X Money, the digital payments system being developed for social media platform X, is expected to enter early public access next month.
The update was shared by Musk in a post on X. “𝕏 Money early public access will launch next month,” Musk wrote in his post.
As noted in a Reuters report, X Money is being developed as a digital payment service that’s directly integrated into the X platform.
The system is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Musk has previously discussed plans to introduce payments and financial services as part of X’s broader development.
Since acquiring the platform in 2022, Musk has discussed expanding X to include a range of services such as messaging, media, and financial tools.
Elon Musk has shared his goal of transforming X into an “everything app.” During a previous podcast interview with members of the Tesla community, Musk mused about turning X into something similar to China’s WeChat, which allows users to shop, pay, communicate, and perform a variety of other tasks.
“In China, you do everything in WeChat… it’s kickass… Outside of China, there’s nothing like it, people live on one app. My idea would be like how about if we just copy WeChat,” Musk joked at the time.
To prepare for the rollout of X Money, X has partnered with payment company Visa to support the development of payment services for the platform’s users. The move could allow X to tap into the growing demand for digital and in-app financial transactions as the company builds additional services around its existing user base.
Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai
Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
