The RZ is Lexus’ first globally available, purpose-built battery-electric model, introduced for the 2023 model year as the brand’s opening step into a more EV-focused future. It arrived as a battery-electric luxury SUV built around a dedicated BEV platform, rather than being adapted from an existing gasoline model, which made it an important milestone in Lexus’ electrification strategy. Lexus positioned the RZ as a new chapter for the brand’s driving character, combining the quiet, refined feel associated with Lexus with an architecture designed specifically for electric propulsion.
For the 2024 model year, Lexus expanded the RZ line with additional variants, broadening its appeal while keeping the nameplate centered on all-electric luxury. The model continued to evolve for 2025 as Lexus added more choices for buyers in the BEV segment. In 2026, the RZ received a substantial refresh and further performance-oriented updates, reinforcing that the nameplate remains an active part of Lexus’ current electric lineup rather than a short-lived launch model.
Because the RZ is still in production, it should be treated as an ongoing nameplate that represents Lexus’ early dedicated BEV era. It is notable less for a long historical run than for its role as the brand’s first true electric-only SUV and a key marker in Lexus’ transition away from being known primarily for hybrids toward a broader battery-electric portfolio.