Toyota UK is planning its own UK sub-brand for engine remanufacturing
Earlier this year, bosses at Japanese carmaker Toyota said they intend to create a new sub-brand in the UK that will focus on the remanufacturing of ex-customer cars.
In an interview with
Autocar, president and managing director of Toyota GB, Agustin Martin, said its factory in Burnaston, Derbyshire, will have a fleet-focused mobility division called Kinto that will refurbish 'to the best standard' end of cycle models.
He told the title that Toyota will take vehicles back to the factory after their 'first use cycle', such as at the end of a lease contract or when a finance agreement comes to an end.
The vehicles will have a full refresh to ensure the second user has a car that's almost like new - though this will likely result in higher second-hand prices.
The same process could also be carried out ahead of a vehicle's third use cycle in a bid to prolong the quality of cars over a longer period of time.
He said: 'We need to stretch the way we look at life for both the vehicle and the customer.'
He explained that this will also help to reduce the environmental impact of new vehicle production.
However, owners of cars with remanufactured engines, gearboxes and turbos should keep a record of the mileage at the date they were installed as part of their documentation.
The automotive parts remanufacturing market in Europe is valued at around €10billion and is expected to reach €20billion by the end of 2024, as diesel vehicles constitute the highest proportion of cars and vans across Europe, the business says.
According to a recent report, Europe’s vehicle parts remanufacturing market is forecast to grow by up to 10 percent annually.
By the end of 2024, the number of remanufactured products will surpass 56 million units per year