Lexus considers building its own charging network to improve electric vehicle charging experience

According to Bloomberg, when Lexus was launched in 1989, the brand was known for providing unparalleled customer service. Thirty-four years later, Toyota Motor Corp.'s luxury brand is not satisfied with the charging experience its first electric car owners received.

Image source: Lexus

On October 25, Lexus President Takashi Watanabe said at the Tokyo Motor Show (renamed "Japan Mobility Show" in 2023) that the development of electric vehicles in Japan is not smooth due to the problem of imperfect charging infrastructure. The home of the Toyota Group is a case in point.

Watanabe noted that the company is trying to actively improve the situation and is using Japan as a test bed to speed up investigations into the problem to reduce consumer anxiety about electric vehicles. "We're asking ourselves, how can we make the experience better? How can we work closely with our Japanese dealers to test different types of services and new experiences to make the entire pure electric vehicle experience better?"

Watanabe said, "Although the number of them (pure electric vehicles) is still limited at present, we are also studying and advancing a Lexus-specific charging station project."

Assuming Lexus eventually produces its own chargers , it would mean the brand is following the lead of electric vehicle leader Tesla. Tesla has been significantly ahead of existing automakers thanks to its vast global charging network. The Mercedes-Benz Group is also planning to build its own dedicated charging stations, with the first ones expected to be opened by the end of this year.