Lexus is reportedly preparing a new electric vehicle for China, with production set to take place at a new plant in Shanghai. Details remain limited, but the upcoming model is expected to be a crossover and could introduce some of the most advanced manufacturing technology yet.
One of the key features will reportedly be gigacasting, a process that allows multiple aluminium body sections to be moulded into a single large piece. Tesla helped popularise the technology, and several other manufacturers are now adopting it.
The lighter construction is expected to reduce weight and potentially improve the new EV’s driving range by quite a margin. Production is expected to start at around 1,000 vehicles per month during the model’s first year before increasing to tens of thousands annually.
Current reports suggest the new Lexus EV could be exclusive to the Chinese market. For now, Lexus is keeping the details under wraps, but this Shanghai-built EV could offer an early look at where the brand is heading next.
Source: Nikkei Asia
