National security spokesperson to continue pressing for a temporary ceasefire that Washington wants to last for at least six weeks
mena2 hours ago
Toyota Motor Corp rolled out its first mass-produced battery electric car in Japan on Thursday for lease only, a strategy the automaker says will help ease driver concerns about battery life and resale value but has raised analysts' eyebrows.
Gasoline-electric hybrid models remain far more popular in Toyota's home market than electric vehicles (EVs), which accounted for just 1 per cent of the passenger cars sold in Japan last year, according to industry data. Still, the market is growing fast and foreign automakers, including Tesla Inc, are making visible inroads on the streets of cities such as Tokyo.
Bundling insurance, repair costs and a battery warranty into the deal, Toyota will lease the bZ4X sport utility vehicles (SUV) at the equivalent of $39,000 for the first four years. Cancelling in the first 48 months will mean an additional fee.
While EV acceptance has been slow in Japan, that will change, and Toyota could risk losing market share by focusing on a model of leasing rather than purchasing, said CLSA analyst Christopher Richter.
Toyota said in December it would commit 8 trillion yen ($62 billion) to electrify its cars by 2030.
ALSO READ:
Toyota aims to lease 5,000 of the SUVs in the current financial year - around the same amount of EVs that analysts estimate Tesla sold in Japan last year.
The automaker plans to start selling the bZ4X in other markets later this year, and pre-orders have already started in some European countries.
Toyota has not decided when it will start selling the cars in Japan, a spokesperson said.
National security spokesperson to continue pressing for a temporary ceasefire that Washington wants to last for at least six weeks
mena2 hours ago
It was RCB's third win — and second in a row — in 10 matches so far this season, keeping their slim hopes of reaching the playoffs alive
cricket2 hours ago
Offshoring business operations to captive centres has proven to be a cost-effective and efficient strategy
realty2 hours ago
Tourism minister Ahmed Al Khateeb says all the kingdom's projects are far away from the conflict
mena2 hours ago
A wave of exceptionally hot weather has blasted the region over the past week, sending the mercury as high as 45 degrees Celsius
asia2 hours ago
This was following a Reuters report that some senior US officials did not find Israel's assurances credible
world2 hours ago
Chinese Premier Li Qiang promises to Musk that the country will always be open to foreign firms
auto2 hours ago
Prevailing market trends, investment opportunities and growth strategies instilling confidence in stakeholders navigating Dubai's dynamic landscape
realty2 hours ago