Marque’s battery EV recalled

Toyota has recalled 2,700 of its first electric vehicles (EVs) because of concerns their wheels could fall off.

The global call-back affects the bZ4X and follows the marque finding a problem with the bolts that connect the wheels to the chassis. It is investigating whether the components need to be replaced.

“Until the remedy is available, no one should drive these vehicles,” says the company in a statement.

The recall of the bZ4X, pictured, comes less than two months after it was launched in Japan, while Subaru is calling back 403 of its Solterra EVs it developed with Toyota because of loose bolts.

Last week, Toyota said it would cut the number of vehicles it plans to produce next month by 50,000 to 800,000 because of a shortage of computer chips and supply disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Although Toyota currently aims to manufacture a total of 9.7 million units around the world in 2022, it has signalled it may be forced to lower that number.

Toyota has been the world’s largest carmaker by sales for the past two years ahead of Volkswagen. However, unlike its German rival it hasn’t embraced all-electric technology to the same extent.

It has, instead, been focusing on plug-in hybrids and traditional hybrids in addition to its foray into hydrogen with the Mirai.

The company says more consumers will be able to buy hybrids until the network of electric-chargers improves while still achieving cuts in carbon-dioxide emissions. Pure EVs, and possibly some driven by hydrogen fuel cells, will then allow it to go “beyond zero”, hence the “bz” in its first electric car’s name. 

Toyota stated in December it will spend billions of dollars creating its own EVs, with an aim of making 30 models available by 2030.