bZ Hubs

[AndyRC]

The document is a pdf so doesn’t copy well into here. The last section is quite interesting as it sets out  the way Toyota intend to market the entire bZ range via bZ Hubs with a move towards leasing rather than selling. As many people with PCP never actually intend to keep the car maybe this is the next step.

The other interesting point is there will be a dedicated card which allows access to any charging network without having to register for each one.  As demand increases I’m sure the supply of charging points will increase quickly two , all of our local supermarkets now have charge points. 

https://newsroom.toyota.eu/download/1114063/bzdeepdivescript.pdf

We know that owning an electric car can be a big step for the customer. And we want to make it as easy as possible. That’s why we have created a new purchase experience that’s dedicated to the bZ sub-brand. It’s seamless, simple, relevant for the customer, and personalized.
The entire process can be 100% digital – with customers booking and ordering the car online. But they can still enjoy contact, consultation, test drive at a retailer, when and if they require it.
 To support this, we are creating dedicated bZ Hubs, with dedicated and highly trained bZ personnel. Through this new ecosystem we will offer a one-stop shop leasing solution which can be fully inclusive of maintenance, insurance, connected services, wall box for home or office, and roadside assistance. Instead of a wallet full of different cards for different charging networks, just one card, with one bill will give the user access to every network, making life much simpler. In short, we will take care of everything and leave the customer free to enjoy the car.
We have a target to sell most of all bZ4Xs on an all-inclusive leasing contract,

[Stopeter44]

Interesting that Toyota, IMO, sees the bZ4X as something of an interim solution. I say this, because if they want to sell them, mostly, on all-inclusive lease contracts, then they see that long term value is at risk. They must be assuming that EV technology will move on rapidly, and customers would not care to risk a long term investment. They can right the losses off against income when they take repossession of the car.

On the other hand, although my eyes are blue I could be full of .....

[AndyRC]

19 hours ago, Stopeter44 said:

Interesting that Toyota, IMO, sees the bZ4X as something of an interim solution. I say this, because if they want to sell them, mostly, on all-inclusive lease contracts, then they see that long term value is at risk. They must be assuming that EV technology will move on rapidly, and customers would not care to risk a long term investment. They can right the losses off against income when they take repossession of the car.

On the other hand, although my eyes are blue I could be full of .....

A lot of people want the latest “thing” and having the ability to change with a known cost as and when has advantages for some. Volvo marketed their Care scheme as having the ability to have a 4x4 for winter months and something sporty for summer. If the numbers stack up I’d consider leasing rather than buying. 

[Stopeter44]

1 hour ago, AndyRC said:

A lot of people want the latest “thing” and having the ability to change with a known cost as and when has advantages for some. Volvo marketed their Care scheme as having the ability to have a 4x4 for winter months and something sporty for summer. If the numbers stack up I’d consider leasing rather than buying. 

Some people don't count the cost, that much, when buying a car, but will be outraged in the increase in the cost of fuel. I can see, how some people, and I certainly could have included myself in that group, might be interested in that 6months + 6months scheme. It's like have a summer set of tyres and a winter set, except a bit more expensive.

I looked at leasing my new car, but decided against it in the end, because I don't want to change a car every 3 years, let alone every 6 months. 

Overall, it's an interesting point you make, and one I hadn't considered. When I bought my current car, I fully expected to keep it 8-10 years, but I persuaded myself it was a good idea to change it after 6, although, in reality it could have gone on many more years.

Edited December 5, 2021 by Stopeter44
Lisibility

[Roy124]

There used to be two change points for your car.  From memory one was about 2 years before your first tyre change and a new exhaust, the other just over 5 when you added brakes, clutch, etc and perhaps body work to the mix. 

Tyres still wear out, especially with tread limits, but many other components and especially bodywork fare better. 

I guess 3 and 5 are still key ages based on warranties. Kia and Toyota are both moving that age.  Is it a good business plan or a marketing ploy? 

[duncerduncs]

The bZ range will come with the same "up to" 10 year warranty and a 600,000 mile warranty on the Battery (that's not a typo!).  I'd happily have a 5 year lease with maintenance included safe in the knowledge that the car and Battery are under warranty throughout!

As the finance is from Toyota FS (via KINTO) I'm sure there will be more scope to exit the lease earlier for another bZ model to keep you 'in brand'.

Toyota Europe have already said that "you won't be waiting long for the smaller bZ vehicles" so expect the bZ1, bZ2 and bZ3X to be shown in the Spring time....

 

[Stopeter44]

13 minutes ago, Roy124 said:

There used to be two change points for your car.  From memory one was about 2 years before your first tyre change and a new exhaust, the other just over 5 when you added brakes, clutch, etc and perhaps body work to the mix. 

Tyres still wear out, especially with tread limits, but many other components and especially bodywork fare better. 

I guess 3 and 5 are still key ages based on warranties. Kia and Toyota are both moving that age.  Is it a good business plan or a marketing ploy? 

I got sucked into the change after 5 years with new car. If I had kept a cool head it still would have been cheaper to change shock absorbers, and W.H.Y., because as the car gets older the annual depreciation diminishes. Once I had started to look at a new cars,... well, the only difference between boys and men is the size of their feet and the cost of their toys!

[Cyker]

I think you're right about the bZ4X (ugh that name!) being an interim - I feel Toyota really don't want to be in the EV game yet as they aren't ready, but they're being forced to so they're putting out something they don't have their normal long-term confidence in and this is the best way to mitigate that.

Maybe they also don't think their normal core customer-base would pay the asking price for it, but this would be more palatable?

Certainly I know people who much prefer such short/medium-term all-in contracts than having to worry about unstable depreciation, insurance and servicing costs etc.

I can definitely see the attraction, but for me it'd be prohibitively expensive just because of my annual miles! That and I've never gotten on with the idea of paying large sums of money for something you don't get to keep..!

 

[duncerduncs]

TBH I'm starting to look at cars in a similar vane to mobile phones! The pace of change over the next 10 years is going to be high and I don't want to pay money for a car which is basically obsolete two years after getting it!

For me, I'm going to set my monthly payment limit and get a vehicle on lease at that price - that might not work for all.

[Yugguy1970]

It's why I PCP.  Where I am in life right now I need the simplicity.

[ernieb]

I’ve always bought my cars but looking at the potential options that might be available on future buys via the BZ Hub this might be the way to go.

[AndyRC]

39 minutes ago, duncerduncs said:

TBH I'm starting to look at cars in a similar vane to mobile phones! The pace of change over the next 10 years is going to be high and I don't want to pay money for a car which is basically obsolete two years after getting it!

For me, I'm going to set my monthly payment limit and get a vehicle on lease at that price - that might not work for all.

I’m thinking along the same lines, the bZ4X won’t have Steer by Wire when it arrives in Europe but may have 18/24 months later. Having the flexibility to change will suit a lot of people. 

[Yugguy1970]

I looked at the Volvo full package offering they do, just for interest, and I could get all the component parts of it cheaper if I bought seperately.

[Catlover]

2 hours ago, Yugguy1970 said:

I looked at the Volvo full package offering they do, just for interest, and I could get all the component parts of it cheaper if I bought seperately.

Do you mean a price for the body, price for doors, price for wiring looms, wheels, tyres, brake parts etc etc.?

[ernieb]

No Joe, Guy said component parts so he probably means down to the level of nuts and bolts! 😂🤣😂🤣😂

[Catlover]

Well, at least it is not sheet metal that requires folding.