Automakers cover plenty of legal ground with many companies securing patents for nameplates in multiple countries including in markets where a vehicle is not sold. Lexus is the latest automaker to do this with the Japanese luxury brand trademarking the LBX nameplate in the U.S. in a recent patent filing.
LBX could be coming to the U.S.
The filing was reported by Justia Trademarks an outlet that regularly publishes filed trademarks to the U.S. patent office. The LBX is Lexus’s smallest crossover in international markets with the model even getting a wild performance variant called the LBX Morizo RR which gets some spicy upgrades from Toyota’s GR division. The LBX is not available in the U.S. with our market getting the UX a compact that lacks the LBX’s performance persona and instead prefers to cruise through life as the smallest hybrid in the brand’s arsenal.
While it’s safe to assume a filing like this is just a mere legal play designed to prevent other automakers from using it, the filing also comes at a time when Lexus is slowly phasing out the UX in some markets with the model also proving to be a slow-seller for the brand with the hybrid being outclassed by many rivals in the compact luxury CUV segment. The LBX could be seen as an upgrade with some in Lexus potentially seeing it as an upgrade over the UX and its slow-selling sales record.
Changes need to be made and tariffs could snuff it out
Before the LBX possibly gets its travel papers, Lexus and Toyota would need to make some changes to the model. The Yaris-based platform that it’s built on does not comply with U.S. safety regulations and the model would need to be overhauled in order for it to even have a chance at complying with these regulations.
In addition to the fundamental changes, Lexus is also dealing with the same trade fueled chaos that parent company Toyota is also facing with tariffs forcing the company to already alter its plans for models. Bringing the LBX over right now would add additional expenses to the company and its foreign origins could also force the brand to raise prices which is the last thing consumers want to hear especially for a compact model that’s supposed to be an entry-level introduction to the Lexus experience.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.