BY Mabuyane Mabuza
Spring ushers in warm weather and a vibrancy of colours after a long and cold winter. It is a time of new possibilities. It is no mistake that in South Africa the month of September has been set aside as tourism month – to encourage locals to Xplore the beauty of our country.
With a country as vast as South Africa and adding the problems associated with our dysfunctional public transport, having your own car to take a sho’t left is most ideal. However, the cost of car ownership can quickly thwart the dreams of waking up next to the oceans or being high up in the Drakensburg mountain range, breathing in the fresh air.
Toyota South Africa has come up with a solution that gives most consumers access to mobility. The KINTO concept affords cash-strapped South Africans access to reliable transport. It is aimed at opening doors for motorists to gain access to car “ownership” without the stress of jumping hoops of the banking system,
KINTO originates from the word KINTO-un, a Japanese word meaning “Flying Nimbus” – a cloud that magically appears, no matter where you are or what time it is, and takes you wherever you want to go.
Toyota is on a mission to get a lot of people into cars without breaking the bank. The car-maker has launched the a relatively new finance model called the KINTO finance.
How does the KINTO finance work?
Easy cheesy – you basically pay as you go. You rent the vehicle directly from Toyota and pay a monthly rental fee. It gives one the freedom to dream.
According to Toyota, this is part of the automaker’s global vision to provide services related to getting people moving.
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) kicked off the “Start Your Impossible” campaign in November 2017 as a way of preparing the world for this transformation from being an automotive to a mobility company. The organisation’s products would continue to include cars but the scope would be broadened to comprise a variety of mobility solutions that enable human motion in ways that go well beyond driving down the road.
As society shifts from conventional car ownership to car usage, there is a growing need for a service that allows customers to freely select the Toyota or Lexus that they want to drive and enjoy it as they like, without being tied down to a conventional financing model, according to the Japanese company.
Initially KINTO SA will debut with KINTO ONE, a pay-for-use service available through all Toyota and Lexus dealers that offers the following:
- The ability to drive a Toyota or Lexus of your choice (with accessories of your choice) including financing and depreciation costs.
- All scheduled services and maintenance are included as well as warranty items for the contract period.
- Connected Car (Wi-Fi and Telematics).
- Stolen vehicle recovery unit and service.
- Initial license and registration.
- KINTO Protect Limited Liability waiver, offering peace of mind in the unfortunate event of an accident or theft.
Toyota SA describes KINTO ONE as the ultimate mobility solution, combining the use of the vehicle, service and maintenance, in one monthly transparent payment with no additional hidden fees when you return the vehicle at the end of the contract. KINTO ONE is also completely flexible, meaning that the monthly mileage and contract period can be amended at any point during the contract.
