Toyota is finally back in production with its first electric car, the bZ4x, after fixing a defect that could cause wheels to wobble when braking hard or making sharp turns. The company also eliminated a flaw with poorly installed airbags that could fail or cause injury.
In June, Toyota announced a global recall of the bZ4X electric crossover due to wheel hub bolts that could loosen after a hard turn or hard braking. It was a major setback for the world’s largest automaker, which has promised to spend $17.6 billion to produce 30 battery-electric models by 2030.
The BZ4X, which began deliveries just two months before the recall, is the first long-range electric vehicle to be sold in North America and Europe. They also recalled the Subaru Solterra model, built on the same platform.
Toyota has recalled 2,700 bZ4X electric vehicles, approximately 260 of which were sold in the US.
Starting in November of this year, Toyota dealers will replace loose hub bolts with new ones with washers free of charge, as well as install new wheel designs. The company advises against driving vehicles until they have been repaired.
“If a wheel comes off the vehicle while driving, it could cause loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of an accident,” the company said in a statement this week.
In addition, Toyota said it had identified and fixed a potential issue with the vehicle’s airbags that had not been previously reported. Some airbags were incorrectly installed at the factory and could fail or cause injury due to the placement of the belt inside the airbag assembly. Masahiko Maeda, Toyota’s chief technology officer, said at a briefing that the problem has been known in recent months.
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“We once again apologize for the concern and inconvenience we have caused to our customers, dealers and stakeholders,” Maeda said.
Toyota previously said it would provide several free services as an apology for the inconvenience, including a $5,000 credit, extended warranty, and free charging at EVgo stations until the end of 2024 (assuming customers return their vehicles by then). If the owners are not satisfied with this option, Toyota offers to buy the electric car from customers (it was assumed that the bZ4X would cost from $42,000).
The bZ4X recall comes at a time of growing demand for electric vehicles. Tesla continues to dominate the market, but older automakers are gaining ground with mid-range crossovers and luxury cars. Electric car prices are rising, too, not just because of demand, but because of inflation and the rising cost of basic materials like the minerals that make up lithium-ion batteries.
Source: The Verge, Reuters
