Toyota dipping a cautious toe into the EV market fray... - dark_dave56 - Inmate Central

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Toyota dipping a cautious toe into the EV market fray...

dark_dave56

...with their newly revealed bZ4X battery-electric SUV. Toyota has been a leader in the hybrid market for the last two decades, but has been slow to move toward full battery-electric vehicle development.

The bZ4X is (or will soon be) available for purchase pre-orders in the US, European, and several other markets, but NOT the JDM (Japan Domestic Market).

Toyota's approach to the JDM is similar to what GM did with their "developmental" EV1 back in the mid/late 90's. Lease-only, and the vehicle must be returned to the manufacturer at the end of the lease. GM considered the EV1 program a technical experiment, and destroyed most all of the vehicles after evaluating them upon return. I'm sure this will not eventually be the case with Toyota--especially if the vehicle becomes a "success".

In Japan, the bZ4X will be offered to customers with an "all-inclusive" 4-year lease at cost of ~$39K--of course, penalties for early termination. You can read and decide for yourself, but I see two "experiments" going on here. The Japanese have been rather reluctant to adopt EVs, and even Honda doesn't have an EV to market--yet, so this may be an attempt to get more people to "try" an EV. The second is the idea of manufacturers no longer selling vehicles--rather just leasing them--new, or used/reconditioned to their customers. Basically a "cradle to grave" fleet-program that takes individual vehicle ownership out of the customers' hands.

We'll see...

"And today is for sale and it's all you can afford. Buy your own admission. The whole things got you bored. Well the Lord chooses the good ones, and the bad ones use the Lord"--a very dear friend for decades Michael Stanley (Gee)--RIP

Toyota Rolls-Out bZ4X (Open in New Window)

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Topic - Toyota dipping a cautious toe into the EV market fray... - dark_dave56 04:01:14 05/12/22 (11)

And coming to a Lexus dealer near you.... - Ivan303 19:31:53 05/12/22 (0)

RE: Toyota dipping a cautious toe into the EV market fray... - pictureguy 13:54:49 05/12/22 (0)

I wonder if the employee who came up with the car's name got a big bonus? - mhardy6647 09:37:03 05/12/22 (0)

RE: Toyota dipping a cautious toe into the EV market fray... - Inmate51 06:59:05 05/12/22 (3)

RE: Toyota dipping a cautious toe into the EV market fray... - DrChaos 16:06:09 05/12/22 (0)

Turn it over to the dudes making up drug names. It will be interesting. nt - free.ranger 10:07:04 05/12/22 (0)

IDK--what's the Japanese translation?... - dark_dave56 07:22:33 05/12/22 (0)

Thinking most car companies would like to do both... - Ivan303 06:53:58 05/12/22 (3)

RE: Thinking most car companies would like to do both... - pictureguy 19:51:35 05/13/22 (0)

RE: Thinking most car companies would like to do both... - Bromo33333 10:12:41 05/12/22 (1)

Several have tried... - dark_dave56 13:44:30 05/12/22 (0)

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