Lexus RX cracks 50,000 Australian sales in a first for the brand
Lexus has delivered its 50,000th RX in Australia with the landmark sale being a RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid, 23 years after the luxury SUV first launched locally.
Rob Leigh
Key takeaways
- First Lexus model to crack 50,000 sales in Australia
- 50,000th delivery was a RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid
- Lexus RX has been on sale in Australia since April 2003
Find a deal on the Lexus RX
The Lexus RX has become the first individual Lexus model to pass 50,000 cumulative sales in Australia with the milestone delivery recorded in April. The 50,000th car was a Lexus RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid, the newest electrified variant in the line-up.
Lexus Australia Chief Executive Jack Hobbs said the model had been central to the brand's local growth.
"Since it first arrived in Australia 23 years ago, the RX luxury SUV has resonated with Australian customers and set the benchmark for refinement, build quality and safety"
A 23-year run for the Lexus RX in Australia
The RX launched here in April 2003 as the second-generation RX 330, just three months after its global reveal. It was an instant hit, lifting total Lexus deliveries by close to 40% in its first nine months and finishing second in the luxury SUV segment in 2004.
Lexus RX 330
Around one in four Lexus sales in Australia have come from the RX line. The brand reached 15,000 cumulative RX deliveries by 2009, six years after launch.
Electrification has driven the Lexus RX story
The RX 400h arrived in 2006 as the world's first hybrid luxury SUV, kicking off a Lexus tradition in battery-assisted powertrains. The current fifth-generation range, launched in 2023, leans heavily on electrification, with the RX 350h hybrid as the entry point and the turbocharged RX 500h F Sport Performance sitting at the top.
Lexus RX 400h
The plug-in hybrid RX 450h+ joined the line-up in 2025 as a Sports Luxury AWD variant, offering EV running for short trips and hybrid efficiency on longer drives.
Lexus RX sales milestones in Australia
| Year | Note | Sales |
| 2003 | First year on sale | 1,671 |
| 2007 | Best year on record | 3,127 |
| 2009 | 15,000 cumulative sales | 2,607 |
| 2023 | Fifth-gen RX launches | 2,743 |
| 2025 | RX 450h+ PHEV joins line-up | 2,126 |
| 2026 | 50,000 cumulative sales (YTD April) | 728 |
Hitting 50,000 sales gives Lexus a clear local benchmark and a strong foundation as the RX moves further into plug-in hybrid territory.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Lexus RX launch in Australia?
The Lexus RX first went on sale in Australia in April 2003 as the second-generation RX 330.
Which Lexus RX was the 50,000th sold in Australia?
The 50,000th Lexus RX delivered in Australia was a RX 450h+ plug-in hybrid, handed over in April 2026.
How many Lexus RX models sell in Australia each year?
Lexus has averaged between 1,800 and 2,700 RX sales per year in Australia over the past decade with 2,126 deliveries in 2025.
Rob Leigh
Co-founder & Director
Rob Leigh is Co-founder and Director of The Beep based in Melbourne, Australia. He has 15+ years inside a major automotive OEM, specialising in product planning, pricing and vehicle strategy.
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