First modification:
The world’s biggest car seller launched its first mass-produced all-electric cars two months ago, but was forced to recall some units after detecting risks of loose wheels.
In a setback for its ambitions to electrify its range of vehicles, the Japanese multinational Toyota Motors had to collect some 2,700 units of its bZ4X SUV model from the market worldwide, according to a statement.
“Until the solution is available, no one should drive these vehicles,” added the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer by sales volume.
The bZ4X SUV is its first mass-produced all-electric reference and was launched two months ago. However, the company detected risks of the wheels becoming loose, although the cause is still under investigation.
Although the Japanese safety regulator has not detected any accidents caused by the defect, it assured that sudden turns or braking could cause one of the wheel bolts to loosen, which increases the risk that one of them will come off the vehicle. .
Among the cars subject to the recall, about 2,200 were distributed in Europe, 270 in North America, 112 in Japan and 60 in the rest of Asia, according to Toyota.
Subaru, in which Toyota has a nearly 20% stake, will also recall some 2,600 units of the Solterra, which is also its first all-electric vehicle and shares major components with the BZ4X.
Series of setbacks for Toyota
The recall of the vehicles adds to other problems at Toyota, which has been forced to cut production this year due to global chip shortages and supply difficulties.
Additionally, the Japanese company is facing pressure from investors due to its slowness in adopting battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
“It’s embarrassing,” said Christopher Richter, an analyst at CLSA, an Asian-owned investment group.
“People have waited so long for Toyota to get a mass-market battery electric vehicle…and just a few weeks after they put it on the market, there’s a recall,” he added.
Gasoline-electric hybrid models remain much more popular in Toyota’s home market than electric vehicles, which accounted for just 1% of passenger cars sold in Japan last year, according to industry data.
With Reuters and AP
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