TOKYO: Toyota will launch the all-new bZ4X battery electric vehicle (BEV) in Japan on May 12 and will only offer it to domestic customers under a subscription model.
It will be followed by sales of the model globally as part of the car maker’s contribution to carbon neutrality. Toyota’s first all-electric model is also expected to launch in Malaysia next year.
In Japan, all vehicles will be leased to eliminate customer concerns regarding BEVs, while implementing battery management for all vehicles to promote the 3Rs (Rebuild, Reuse, Recycle) of batteries.
The bZ4X will be made available to individual customers through Kinto subscription services.
The plan is for a maximum 10-year term with guaranteed battery performance. Monthly payments decrease in stages starting from the fifth year with no early cancellation fees. Connected service use and various other fees are included in the monthly fees.
For corporate customers, the vehicles will be leased from Toyota Rent-a-Lease Dealers nationwide and the Toyota Mobility Services Corporation (Tokyo region).
In Japan, Toyota will start the first phase by accepting applications for the first 3,000 units on May 12 and anticipates a second phase of applications in early autumn. A total of 5,000 units for production and sales are planned for the first year.
In addition, Toyota will respond to developments in charging infrastructure. Toyota plans to install rapid chargers at all dealers in Japan by 2025, with initial plans to install rapid chargers mainly in urban areas where demand is high for BEVs.
A BEV-dedicated platform, a first for Toyota, was developed with Subaru based on the e-TNGA philosophy to achieve attractive, smooth, intuitive driving performance, not just for a BEV, but for any car, as well as the off-road performance of an authentic SUV.
Toyota said the bZ4X offers a power efficiency performance of 128 Wh/km and cruising range of up to 559km. The battery is rated to have a world-leading battery capacity retention ratio of 90% after 10 years. A front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions are available.
The bZ4X will be built at Toyota’s Motomachi plant.
Keyword: Toyota bZ4X electric SUV to launch in Japan on May 12 as a subscription model