By EISUKE EGUCHI/ Staff Writer
October 28, 2022 at 17:04 JST
Customers who purchase certain domestic Toyota and Lexus vehicles made from November will receive one smart key instead of two because of a semiconductor shortage, Toyota Motor Corp. announced on Oct. 27.
It is the first time that Toyota has been forced into such a move.
Customers will only be given a mechanical key for their second key, which can be inserted into the lock on the car door, Toyota said.
The measure is temporary, and customers affected will receive the second smart key when they are ready.
The company said the change will apply to 14 models of Toyota cars including the Crown, Prius and Harrier, along with nine Lexus models, such as the LS and ES.
When including vehicles sold abroad, 25 Toyota models and 12 Lexus models will be affected by the decision.
Typically, when a vehicle is delivered to a customer, Toyota gives two electronic keys, which enables an owner to lock and unlock the vehicle without touching the car.
Each electronic key also has a mechanical key.
Deliveries of new electronic keys, however, have been way overdue because of the ongoing semiconductor shortage.
To deliver a vehicle as quickly as possible, Toyota said it has decided to make one smart key available for customers of certain types of cars.
Car manufacturers have struggled to manufacture vehicles to their liking because of the semiconductor shortage.
Certain Toyota models are expected to take several years to be delivered, the company said.
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An electronic smart key for Toyota vehicles (Provided by Toyota Motor Corp.)
