Overview
- Toyota executive Hiroki Nakajima confirmed late June that Lexus has discontinued development of the LF‑ZC flagship electric sedan and approved a successor to carry its technology.
- Company officials said key subsystems from the LF‑ZC are complete and ready for production, including gigacast body structures, a new electrical/ADAS platform, miniaturization work, and prismatic high‑performance battery cells.
- Gigacasting is a manufacturing method that forms large single‑piece body parts to cut assembly steps and weight, while prismatic cells promise roughly double the range and faster charging compared with conventional pack designs.
- Toyota cited the large capital investment needed for molds and mass‑production equipment as the reason for canceling the bespoke sedan, and industry observers say the successor will likely be a crossover or SUV to achieve higher volumes.
- The move lets Lexus capture R&D value without the bespoke production cost, but it delays a flagship sedan launch and signals a strategic shift toward models that can better compete with fast‑moving rivals such as Chinese EV makers.