Archive · 31 Oct 2025
Toyota's Century Brand Frees Lexus for New Luxury and Mobility Ventures
Imagine Toyota has two special toy car brands.
One is called 'Century', which is like a super fancy, traditional toy car that's really about old-school luxury and craftsmanship.
The other brand is 'Lexus', which used to also focus on those traditional luxury cars.
Now, Toyota is saying that 'Century' will take care of all the very traditional luxury stuff.
This frees up 'Lexus' to create all sorts of new and exciting things!
Lexus can now make different kinds of vehicles, maybe even things that aren't cars at all, like special scooters or services.
They are also thinking a lot about electric cars, but one big problem is how long it takes to charge them.
They want to make charging as fast as filling up a gas car.
Lexus is also looking at markets like India to see what people there want, especially with more people liking SUV-style cars.
They want to make sure their new electric and different mobility options are convenient and fun for everyone, no matter where they live.
Toyota has launched its ultra-luxury brand 'Century' at the Japan Mobility Show.
The introduction of 'Century' frees Lexus to pursue new product types, services, and mobility solutions beyond traditional cars.
Lexus President Takashi Watanabe highlighted charging speed as a significant hurdle for mass-market adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).
Tariff issues are not currently causing major strategic shifts for Lexus due to its global operational model and regional production.
Lexus plans to maintain hybrid options alongside BEVs, adapting to regional infrastructure and customer preferences.
- Who
- Toyota Motor Corporation, specifically Lexus President Takashi Watanabe
- What
- Announced the launch of its ultra-luxury brand 'Century' and discussed its impact on the Lexus brand, future mobility, and electric vehicle strategy.
- When
- At the Japan Mobility Show
- Where
- Japan Mobility Show
- Why
- To allow the Lexus brand to focus on new products and services by having the Century brand handle traditional luxury values and craftsmanship.
- New Brand Launch
- Toyota announced the ultra-luxury brand 'Century' at the Japan Mobility Show.
- Lexus's New Direction
- Lexus is now free to develop diverse products and services beyond traditional automobiles.
- BEV Charging Challenge
- Charging speed is identified as a key challenge for widespread Battery Electric Vehicle adoption.
- Tariff Impact on Lexus
- Tariffs are not currently forcing major changes for Lexus due to existing global production and regional adaptation strategies.
- Hybrid Role
- Hybrids will remain an option for customers based on regional infrastructure and customer preference.
- India Market Focus
- Lexus is researching the evolving Indian luxury market, noting a trend towards SUVs.