Toyota Motor said on Friday the cause is
still under investigation, but the whole wheel could come off, risking a crash.
“Until the remedy is available, no one
should drive these vehicles,” the company said in a statement.
Among the vehicles subject to the latest
recall, about 2,200 were destined for Europe, 270 for North America, 112 for
Japan, and 60 for the rest of Asia, according to Toyota. They were produced
between March and June.
The bZ4X, which went on sale about two
months ago, is a key model in Toyota's plans to strengthen its electric lineup.
Toyota is planning to have 30 EV models by
2030, selling 3.5 million electric vehicles globally that year. Toyota is also
investing 2 trillion yen ($17.6 billion) in battery research and development to
achieve such goals.
The “bz” in the recalled model's name, as
well as others in the works, stands for a “beyond zero” series, including
sport-utility vehicles of all sizes, pickup trucks and sportscars, according to
Toyota.
The maker of the Prius hybrid and Lexus
luxury models has been seen by some critics as a straggler in pushing electric
vehicles, partly because it has been so bullish, and successful, in other green
technology, such as hybrids and fuel cells, as well as efficient gas engines.
Demand for electric cars is expected to
continue growing, especially with gas prices soaring recently, amid worries
about inflation and the war in Ukraine, and people around the world become more
conscious about climate change and the environment.