Automakers securing trademarks and patents in regions where a vehicle may not exist is nothing new. Ram recently filed a patent for its Rampage truck in the US, but we don't necessarily expect to see that exact model Stateside. GM, meanwhile, recently renewed its Pontiac trademark, but we're not holding out hope for a comeback.
Now Lexus is securing a trademark for the nameplate "LBX" in America, according to Justia Trademarks, which lists public trademark and patent filings in the US. The LBX is the automaker's tiny, Yaris-based crossover sold throughout Europe and other markets. There's even a performance variant with the GR Yaris's three-cylinder engine underhood—the LBX Morizo RR.
As with any trademark filing, this doesn't necessarily mean that Lexus will bring its tiny LBX crossover to America. The automaker is likely securing the patent to prevent other companies from using the name. That said, the LBX would make a lot of sense for the US.
Lexus is slowly phasing out its other tiny crossover, the UX, in certain markets, or has moved it to a hybrid-only configuration. The UX went on sale in 2019 and hasn't exactly been a hot commodity. Even in its best sales year in the US, Lexus never moved more than 12,000 examples. If the company hopes to continue in this segment, the LBX would make a lot of sense.
Riding on Toyota's versatile TNGA architecture, the LBX has a hybrid 1.5-liter engine making 136 horsepower in the UK, paired to either a front- or all-wheel-drive setup. It starts at £29,995, which comes out to just over $40,000 in the US. The Lexus UX, meanwhile, costs $37,715 in the US for 2025.
But the question remains: Will Lexus bring the LBX to the US? We'll just have to wait and see.
Source: Justia Trademarks
