Toyota Looks to Make Personal Transport a Breeze

Toyota Looks to Make Personal Transport a Breeze

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With the launch of the new Vitz, Toyota is interested in making vehicles more readily available to the public. The system Toyota is looking at is called Kinto, and it's not necessarily a vehicle sales platform or even a retake on cheaper financing options. Instead, it's a platform reimagining vehicle leasing and rental. 

So what is Kinto? It comes from the Japanese word of Kinto-Un, which means 'flying nimbus'. The name was given to a magical cloud which will take you anywhere you would like to go. They felt this perfectly represented their new product, as Kinto should make mobility easier.

Kinto is a new product from Toyota that gives owners the sense of driving a new car without actually owning the vehicle. The fantastic thing about Kinto is that the monthly fee covers everything except the petrol you will use. In other words, your car will automatically be fully covered in case of an accident. There is a small excess of R2,500 if you do have an accident without third-party involvement if you're under 25, and if you damage the car severely.

No worries about the ownership side of things. Services are included; even licensing. No need to queue for the annual license disc renewal since it's sent to you. Even if you have a puncture, Toyota will take care of that.

So now, onto the vehicles. Almost every car on the Toyota showroom floor will be included in Kinto One. If you want a more exciting commute, a GR Supra is the car for you. A Hilux or Fortuner is the better option if you have a more scenic day-to-day drive. The only thing we are waiting on is the price of the monthly instalments, but we believe they will be more affordable than you'd think.

Ease of use for the Kinto One system is vital for Toyota. The vehicle will have an app to personalise your plan on the fly. If one month you need to travel 15,000 km, update your plan – it will cost a fraction more, but it also works on the contrary. If you only do less than 2,000 km a month, update your policy. Furthermore, the app allows users to monitor their mobility.

The Kinto platform inspires mobility, providing first-time drivers, companies and seasoned motorists to drive their first car, next car, or dream car off the showroom floor. Currently, Kinto allows users to take out a minimum of six months on their plan. Toyota is looking, though, to decrease that time frame for added flexibility. 

It's a special feeling driving a brand-new car off the showroom floor for a fraction of the cost, but I want to remind you that this is similar to a lease. Meaning that Toyota still owns the vehicle, even when it's in your possession. And once your plan is up, you can extend it or return the car.