Toyota launched its Kinto One car subscription service back in July 2022 and it has been a big hit for the automaker ever since.
The “pay-for-use mobility solution” allows consumers to drive Toyota or Lexus vehicles for up to five years with one monthly payment that includes all scheduled service, maintenance, and licence fees, without taking ownership of the car.
While the company steered clear of mentioning the exact figures, it has had “thousands” of local customers including individuals and businesses since mid-2022, “showing the fastest growth of all Kinto One businesses globally,” Slade Thompson, General Manager of Sales and Marketing at Kinto Mobility, told TopAuto.
During this time, the three most popular models for Kinto One patrons were the Hilux, Corolla Cross, and Starlet, and the majority of them opted for 36-month contracts with mileage parameters of 150,000km per annum.
Thompson said customers have applauded the product’s flexibility as it allows them to change contract length and mileage limits after it has commenced, and it makes expense forecasting for businesses and individuals much simpler.
Thus far, there have been “no criticisms to note,” he said.
What does the future hold for Kinto in South Africa
In the short term, Kinto will focus on “perfecting” the One offering on new vehicles, after which a solution will be developed for second-life subscriptions.
“This will give a customer the option to subscribe to a fleet of Kinto pre-owned vehicles as an alternative to a brand-new vehicle,” said Thompson.
Further down the line, Kinto will also look at introducing additional mobility solutions under the Kinto umbrella namely Flex, Join, Ride, and Share, which aim to satisfy the transportation needs of a wide variety of consumers, the company confirmed back in June 2023.
Kinto Flex will be similar to Kinto One but will offer a “flexible car subscription.” In other words, the contract can be adjusted for any length of time, even one day, and canceled at any time, too.
Kinto Join is described as “Corporate Carpooling” that aims to “change the way people travel to work”; whereas Kinto Share is categorised as “Corporate Car Sharing” which allows subscribers access to a specific vehicle they need, if and when they need it.
Kinto Ride is then an on-demand trip service, similar to ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt. This will enable members to request a pickup at their current location and a dropoff at a different spot they want to go to.
As it stands, Thompson did not reveal when the Kinto product range will be expanded, stating that the rollout will take place “in line with market requirements.”
Keyword: Toyota’s car subscription service is a big hit in South Africa – The numbers