Toyota Kinto subscription service launched in Japan

Initially there will be two Kinto plans to choose from: Kinto One for Toyota vehicles, and Kinto Select offering only Lexus cars.

At launch only five Toyota vehicles will be available through Kinto One: Prius, Corolla Sport, Alphard, Vellfire, and Crown.

Prices for 36 month subscription vary depending on the vehicle, with the Prius starting at ¥49,788 ($626) per month, and topping out at ¥106,920 ($1345) for the Crown.

During the northern autumn Toyota will introduce a points scheme, which will reward customers based on how efficiently and safely they drive. Accrued points can be used towards monthly payment costs.

Kinto Select users pay a flat ¥194,400 ($2445) per month for 36 months, and can choose between six Lexus vehicles: ES300h, IS300h, RC300h, UX250h, NX300h, and RX450h.

In addition to driving fancier cars, people using the Select service are also able to change vehicles every six months.

With both Kinto One and Select plans, the monthly fee includes vehicle and other taxes, registration fees, and insurance. Interestingly Kinto One's fee includes scheduled servicing, but Kinto Select does not.

Volvo has run into legal action in the US with its dealers arguing the Care by Volvo subscription service is little more than glorified leasing scheme designed to side-step dealerships.

Kinto is available both online, and through Toyota and Lexus dealers. During the initial roll out, the subscription service will only be available in the Tokyo metro area, with nationwide coverage due to begin during the northern summer.

Kinto is a joint venture operation, with Toyota Financial Services owning 66.6 per cent, and Sumitomo Mitsui Bank the rest. It will start out with ¥1.8 billion ($22.6 million) in working capital.

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