Alfard can also modify the latest safety equipment and options! What are the winners and goals of Toyota's "car renovation" that people care about?

　On January 28th, 2022, Toyota launched a service called "KINTO Factory". Let the Toyota and Lexus cars owned by car owners evolve to the latest state.

　There are three main types of services: the "refurbishment" of old models to replace new products; the "update" of accessories, power sockets and safety equipment; and the optimization of the "individual" of cars according to the preferences of their respective owners.

　This time, the "refurbished" and "updated" services began. With regard to the "individual", it is being adjusted.

　The current target models are all eight cars, including the Prius, Alfa, Verfer, Lexus UX and Lexus CT (see below). As of mid-February 2022, the service was limited to 28 stores in Tokyo and one in Shizuoka prefecture. In the future, the target store will continue to expand.

　Therefore, this article provides an overview of the "KINTO Factory" while examining the significance and prospects of the service.

Wen / Yoichiro Watanabe, photo / TOYOTA

What kind of service is "KINTO Factory"?

　"KINTO" is the name of the subscription service implemented by Toyota. It is positioned as a kind of car rental that uses cars on a fixed price basis.

　The service, called "KINTO Factory" under the name KINTO, was launched on January 28th, 2022. Quota service will also be arranged in the future, so the name of KINTO is given, but there is no direct relationship at present.

　The KINTO plant is a plan to revolutionize its Toyota and Lexus cars. Its content is divided into renovation and upgrade.

　The renovation now includes the replacement of the seat skin, the replacement of the seat cushion, the change of the leather winding steering wheel, the replacement of the wheel cover set by the special specification car, and so on.

　The upgrade is mainly the rear position of functions and equipment. AC100V ·1500W accessory power sockets (hybrid cars), parking support brakes, blind spot monitors and rear cross alarms can be installed.

　These equipment are standard installation or manufacturer options installed on the manufacturer's production line. Unlike the dealer option, it is classified as a part that could not have been modified. The KINTO factory can also install it after purchase. It is also beneficial to have a manufacturer's warranty.

At present, only Tokyo and Shizuoka!? What is the price of the car model and service you care about?

　At present, the target models of the KINTO factory are the Prius (previous generation and current type), the Prius α, Aqua (previous generation), Alpha (current type), Weaver (current type), Lexus UX, Lexus NX (previous generation), Lexus CT.

　The content of refurbishment and upgrade is different in model and year. For example, in the case of the current Prius, as a menu, you can first list the refresh of the flake. Replace the fabric seat fabric and the polyurethane cushion inside the seat, and change the steering wheel to a real leather roll (switches and pads are not changed). The price is only 66,000 yen for the front seat and 88,000 yen for the front and rear seats.

　At the time of the above refresh, the sheet fabric can also be upgraded to synthetic leather, which costs only 77,000 yen for the front seat and 99,000 yen for the front and rear seats. In other words, if you add 11,000 yen to the price of the fabric, you can choose synthetic leather. There is also a plan to only change the steering wheel to a leather roll, which costs 16,500 yen.

　The rear position of the power outlet attached to the AC100V 1500W is 89,100 yen in the case of the Prius. The previous option price was 43, 200 yen (44, 000 yen if the consumption tax is 10%), which is nearly twice the amount, but also comes with a new 3-year / 60, 000 km manufacturer guarantee.

　The warranty period varies according to the commodity, and there is a minimum one-year warranty, but all are calculated from the time of decoration or upgrade. Even when construction is carried out on old vehicles, the target part is accompanied by a corresponding warranty period.

　The wheel cover can also be replaced with four sets. If you exchange 4 sets of wheel covers with PHV specifications for the normal type of Prius, the price of the package is 16,500 yen. By the way, when you buy it at the new car store, "four packages are about 30,000 yen".

　In other words, the price of decoration and upgrade of the KINTO factory is higher than that of the manufacturer's choice of installation, but cheaper than ordering repair parts for replacement.

　In addition, in the Lexus CT, when changing leather seat cloth and internal polyurethane cushions, only the front seat is 110000 yen, including the back seat is 198, 000 yen.

　In addition, according to the KINTO factory, "when entrusting construction, you need to apply in advance." After that, please store the car in a store that you can bring in. The storage time for cars will be 1-1.5 months. " Compared with the general vehicle inspection and maintenance, the storage time of the vehicle is much longer.

　In addition, in mid-February 2022, the stores that can store vehicles are limited to Tokyo (4 Toyota stores + 24 Lexus stores) and Shizuoka Prefecture (1 store). KINTO factory said: "this is a newly established service, so there are very few areas where it is implemented now." It will be carried out nationwide in the future.

The next page is: it is important to make effective use of the car you own. The true intention of the KINTO factory