Toyota might be late to the EV party, but the auto giant is taking a game-changing approach to the way it delivers its bZ4X in Japan, with the vehicles to be leased, not sold, to help eliminate concerns over battery degradation.
Unlike the Tesla Model Y, Polestar 2, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, which customers simply purchase, Toyota in Japan is offering the bZ4X through its KINTO subscription service – which has also launched in Australia – to “eliminate customer concerns regarding BEV”.
All EV batteries lose capacity over time, with most manufacturers only guaranteeing 70 per cent (or so) charge after seven, eight or 10 years. Toyota says it recognised this as a barrier to entry, including its impact on potential resale values, and will offer the subscription service as a way to alleviate fears.
“The bZ4X will be made available to individual customers through KINTO subscription services with the aim of enabling use for extended periods with peace of mind and the development of customer-oriented services,” the brand said in a statement.
The KINTO service applies to all vehicles, with outright sales scrapped, with the lease terms lasting a maximum 10 years to “eliminate customer concerns regarding battery performance, maintenance, and residual value.”
It will also allow Toyota to guarantee the performance of its batteries for the 10-year program, before recycling them through its 3R (Rebuilt, Reuse, Recycle) program.
The brand is guaranteeing 70 per cent battery capacity for the duration of the lease agreement, or 200,00km.
The lease also runs in a cascading price structure, with monthly fees reducing at year five, and then again every year after. There’s also no cancellation fee after year five, meaning you can simply hand the vehicle back.
Toyota in Australia is yet to detail how it will offer the bZ4X in Australia – though local representatives have been contacted for comment – but the KINTO service launched locally in Melbourne on June 1 last year, and already locations in Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland, with the rental service mostly operating out of existing Toyota dealerships.
Today’s news follows bZ4X EV’s range-certification in Europe, with the battery-powered crossover to deliver a 516km driving range on a single charge.
We knew Toyota’s incoming EV would deliver a 470km driving range in dual-motor AWD guise, but the new figure is attached to the cheaper, single-motor vehicle, which will crack the 500km barrier (both figures WLTP).
The front-drive (single motor) bZ4X models deliver up 150kW of power from the one electric motor, while the all-wheel-drive models draw frrom two 80kW motors for a combined total output of 160kW.
The range comes courtesy of the bZ4X’s 71.4kWh battery, which is the same across single- and dual-motor models. The bZ4X is expected to arrive in Australia in late 2022 or early 2023.
Keyword: Why Toyota won't sell you the bZ4X! Game-changing plan to lease, not sell, incoming EV to "eliminate concerns over battery performance"