While nothing has been confirmed, Automotive News is reporting that the US supply of Lexus HS 250h sedans to the US may be affected by the hybrid’s massive success in Japan:
In its first month in Japan, the car racked up 10,000 orders or about 20 times Toyota Motor Corp.‘s initial sales target of 500 vehicles a month.
Customers wanting an HS 250h now face a six-month wait in Japan, meaning a car ordered today will be delivered in February, said Toyota spokeswoman Monika Saito.
The surge in demand could affect supply of the Japan-made car to U.S. dealerships.
“We hope there won’t be a problem, but we’ll see,” Saito said.
The fact that Japanese orders have been spread out over six months should minimize the impact on the HS 250h supply. Of course, it all depends on the model’s success in the U.S., where it’s expected the hybrid sedan will sell just over 2,000 units a month.
[Source: Automotive News]