Toyota Wants to Refurbish Used Cars

To extend the lifespan of used cars by providing a quality guarantee, Toyota is studying automotive remanufacturing in the United Kingdom.

With the growth of leasing or LLD-type rentals, the usage time of a single vehicle tends to decrease. How can these vehicles last longer from an environmental perspective? Toyota has studied a solution.

An interesting idea but needs clarification

“I think we’re used to 2- or 3-year cycles that are very popular in the UK,” says Agustin Martin in Autocar, president of Toyota UK, “but we need to go further than these cycles and ask: OK, what happens in the second and third cycles?” The Japanese manufacturer has thus launched an initiative through its Kinto subsidiary dedicated to mobility.

The idea is to take back cars at the end of their first cycle and send them back to the Burnaston factory that produces the Corolla. The vehicle is restored to an “optimal level”, even after being used second-hand.

The brand has not detailed the control or repair procedures, especially with the arrival of electric components in hybrid and electric models such as the Toyota bZ4X. But it mentions “reuse of essential parts that can be used for other purposes”. Here, we’re talking about recycling, in addition to automotive remanufacturing.

The advantage of this solution is twofold. It allows Toyota to offer used cars of higher quality (more expensive) or nearly new for its rental services. Buyers may thus prefer these options or the used car market rather than new, which benefits the environment. Toyota’s initiative remains to be clarified and determined if it has prospects elsewhere, including in France.

Remanufacturing already established in France

Toyota’s vision goes far beyond current practices. We’re here in the model of Apple reconditioning recent iPhones. The American company refurbishes them to nearly new condition for resale at a more advantageous but still costly price compared to traditional used cars. Other examples include BackMarket and its upcycled electronic products.

In the automotive sector, brokers or specialized companies already refurbish used cars. For example, Manouvellevoiture.com states that 90% of vehicles pass through their two preparation centers before resale, located in Les Essarts (Vendée) and Le Mans (Sarthe). This involves “mechanical refurbishment” and damage repairs.

AramisAuto does the same with its “remanufacturing plant” in Donzère (Drôme). The broker cites “200 quality control points”, replacing wear parts and/or repainting the “bodywork if necessary”.

Among manufacturers, Renault has planned a “circular economy factory” in Flins (Yvelines) called Refactory for 2024. The Renault group aims to carry out electric retrofit, battery refurbishing, or car recycling there.

Also read: How Lynk & Co is reinventing car rentals