Toyota is recalling 2,700 bZ4X crossover vehicles worldwide due to loose wheel nuts, a big setback for the Japanese automaker's plans to roll out electric vehicles.
Toyota Motor said on Friday that the reason is still being investigated, but the entire wheel might fall off, posing an accident risk.
"No one should drive these vehicles until a fix is available," the business stated in a statement.
According to Toyota, around 2,200 automobiles were headed for Europe, 270 for North America, 112 for Japan, and 60 for the rest of Asia. They were manufactured in March and June.
The bZ4X, which went on sale approximately two months ago, is an important vehicle in Toyota's efforts to expand its electric roster.
Toyota intends to have 30 EV models on the market by 2030, with 3.5 million electric vehicles sold globally that year. Toyota is also investing 2 trillion yen ($17.6 billion, or about Rs. 130 crores) in battery research and development to meet these targets.
According to Toyota, the "bz" in the name of the recalled model, as well as others in the works, stands for a "beyond zero" series, which includes sport-utility vehicles of various sizes, pickup trucks, and sportscars.
Some critics regard Toyota, the creator of the Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury cars, as a laggard in promoting electric vehicles, partly because it has been so aggressive and successful in other green technologies, including hybrids and fuel cells, as well as efficient gas engines.
Demand for electric vehicles is projected to rise further, especially since gas prices have lately risen due to concerns about inflation and the Ukraine conflict, and as people across the world become more concerned about climate change and the environment.
