New Delhi: Toyota will resume sales of the bZ4X, its first mass-produced all-electric vehicle, following a recall over the risk of the wheels coming loose.
Toyota recalled 2,700 bZ4X models in June, less than two months after the model was launched, due to the risk of loose wheels.
The company said production of the electric SUV, which is designed as Toyota’s answer to the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID4, will resume on Thursday after it found a fix for the defect.
Also Read :- Buying a second-hand bike? Tips to keep in mind
Toyota Executive Vice President Masahiko Maeda said the automaker will gradually resume deliveries of the bZ4X and will prioritize meeting the demand of customers waiting for the car.
Subaru, one-fifth owned by Toyota, also had to withdraw units of its Solterra sibling, which it co-developed with Toyota.
Japan’s safety regulator said in June that sharp turns and sudden braking can cause a hub bolt to loosen, increasing the risk of a wheel falling off the vehicle, which analysts say is a simple and cheap problem to fix.
Toyota said in a filing with Japan’s transport ministry on Thursday that it will ensure hub bolts are replaced and properly tightened on new cars.
The company also said it had identified and fixed a potential problem with the car’s airbags, making sure head airbags designed to prevent head injuries in a crash were properly installed. This issue has not been previously identified.
Of the 2,700 bZ4X vehicles recalled, 2,200 were earmarked for Europe, 260 for the US, 20 for Canada and 110 for Japan.
Also Read :- Top 10 Cars, Bikes to Launch in India
Toyota has faced criticism from environmental groups and investors who want the company to roll out battery electric cars faster. Toyota backed down, saying it needed to offer a range of cars to suit different markets and customers.
Hybrid electric cars like the Prius remain much more popular in Toyota’s home market of Japan, and last year pure electric cars made up just 1 percent of passenger cars sold in Japan, according to industry data.
Last year, Toyota allocated about 30 billion dollars to the development of battery electric cars. It expects the company’s annual sales of these cars to reach just 3.5 million vehicles by the end of the decade, roughly one-third of its current annual sales of gasoline-powered cars.
