Toyota launches Kinto car sharing service

Toyota is making a huge change to its Australian business that could change the way we own and use cars forever.

Toyota is launching new car sharing service Kinto in Victoria.

Toyota isn’t happy just dominating the new car market, where it accounts for one in five new vehicles sold, it now wants a slice of the growing car sharing community.

The Japanese giant has announced its new Kinto car sharing service, which will allow users to rent a wide array of Toyota vehicles on an hourly basis.

Toyota is launching a new car sharing service Kinto in Victoria.

Toyota Australia executive Sean Hanley says Kinto gives more Australians the chance to get into a new Toyota vehicle and is part of the company’s transformation into a mobility company.

“Kinto is the next best thing to owning your own car because it is simple and affordable to book and drive the latest Toyota vehicles, including our popular hybrid models,” says Mr Hanley.

A wide range of vehicles are available including Australia’s favourite new car the HiLux ute.

“Kinto is part of our strategy to transition from a car company to a mobility company by providing new transport-related services to people across Australia,” he says.

The service works in a similar way to other car sharing services such as GoGet, which allow members to rent vehicles from on street hubs at convenient locations from one hour to 24 hours or even a week.

Prices get better value the longer you rent for.

The cheapest vehicle is the pint-sized Toyota Prius C hatchback that costs $9.10 an hour plus a 30 cent charge per km travelled. Renting for 24 hours will set you back $63 and 27 cents per km and for a full week it’ll be $294 and 18 cents per km.

Users can rent for as little as one hour.

Nearly every Toyota vehicle is available on the Kinto service including some of Australia’s most popular new cars such as the Toyota RAV4 SUV and HiLux ute.

All vehicles are covered by comprehensive car insurance – including the ability to lower your excess – and 24 hour roadside assistance.

It will initially launched in Melbourne CBD and several small towns north of Melbourne.

All bookings, unlocking and locking the vehicle and payments are done via a smartphone app.

Initially Toyota is launching the service in the Melbourne CBD and the suburb of Carlton and at dealerships at Kilmore and Seymour north of Melbourne.

The company has plans to extend the service throughout Australia.