According to Lexus, they will cut their initial sales target for the upcoming Lexus HS 250h hybrid by 5,000 units to account for a continuing downturn in the car market.

Lexus set initial sales target at 30,000 units for the upcoming hybrid, but has now decided to cut their sale target to only 25,000 annually.  According to mark Templin, the general manager of Lexus, "We still think 30,000 units are viable, but our plan is to do 25,000."

The announcement comes right after Toyota announced that pre-orders for the Prius are much higher than anticipated and they will have to increase production for the model.  Perhaps Prius sales are predicted to cut into sales for the upcoming and very similar Lexus model.

According to Lexus, they would rather be conservative than have excess inventory on dealer lots.

The HS goes on sale in August an will be the first hybrid-only luxury car on the market at introduction and also will claim the spot as the most fuel efficient Lexus ever made with an EPA rating of 35 mpg city and 34 mpg highway.

Source:  Wards Auto