Toyota The models could stick around longer as the company focuses more on software updates and its electrified powertrains.
Accordingly The NikkeiToyota will extend the life cycle of its most popular models to nine years from the current seven years.
The nine-year mark is not set in stone as replacement cycles can vary depending on the model. Cars designed specifically for China are still expected to be replaced more quickly, as local manufacturers typically refresh their vehicles every few years.
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With the advent of software-defined vehicles and over-the-air updates, Toyota believes it can keep core models fresher for longer.
Longer life cycles are expected to help Toyota cope with high demand for some models such as the LandCruiser, which have years-long waiting lists.
Apparently the company fears that a new version is imminent when some customers receive their cars. The move will also reportedly ensure resale value remains high.
To accommodate longer model cycles, Toyota wants to change the way it sets wholesale prices. At least in Japan, wholesale prices automatically fall as a car gets older. This gives dealers greater leeway for discounts they may need to move older vehicles.
Toyota is reportedly interested in setting wholesale prices dynamically based on sales data. Third-party owners, who make up most of the 230 Toyota dealers in Japan, are reportedly against the change.
If The Nikkei That’s right, the nine-year model life cycle continues the trend towards longer-lasting models. In the 1980s and 1990s, Japanese manufacturers typically had four to five year cycles for key models. This number increased to about six years in the 2000s and seven years in the 2010s.
We don’t know if Toyota vehicles intended for a nine-year life cycle will receive two facelifts instead of the usual one.
The question also arises as to what a new generation model is. Toyota considers the latest Camry a new-generation model, even though it shares doors, wheelbase, undercarriage and many components with the previous generation, which was on sale for seven years.
It’s also worth noting that large off-road SUVs and utes have always had a longer life cycle. The Prado, for example, was finally replaced last year after 14 years.
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