On Monday, Lexus announced the 2021 IS would debut on June 9th at 7 p.m. EDT.
Now, just four days later, the company has postponed the unveiling due to what it simply described as the “recent global situation.”
While Lexus didn’t elaborate, there’s been one story that has dominated headlines all this week. That’s the death of George Floyd who died on May 25th after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin had his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
Also Read: 2021 Lexus IS Slated To Retain Current Platform And Engine Lineup
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The killing of yet another unarmed black man, who was clearly in distress, sent shock waves across the United States. Protests have occurred in cities across the country and some have turned violent and resulted in looting.
The protests continue and have been gaining traction globally as there have been gatherings in Berlin, London, Paris and New Zealand – just to name a few.
Toyota released a statement about social injustice
The outcry has been so loud that several automakers have even weighed in. Among them was Toyota who released a statement on social injustice saying, “We all have witnessed unacceptable bigotry and a lack of education around the COVID-19 virus to more recent societal issues of violence, killings and racism against African Americans in Minnesota, Kentucky, Georgia and elsewhere. These events may be difficult for many of us to process and our thoughts are with all those directly affected and their families and friends.”
Toyota went on to say “We stand behind our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and we remain steadfast in our belief for equality, respect and inclusivity for all people.”
While it’s possible the coronavirus may have played some role in the decision, the car was going to be given a digital debut so that shouldn’t have been much of a factor. It’s also worth noting that other events have been cancelled as a result of the protests including a look a the Playstation 5.
Getting back to the IS, Lexus said a new date will be announced soon. The company has been tight-lipped about the model, but it is expected to feature new styling as well as carryover powertrains.
