Toyota has warned Japanese buyers they could face a long wait to own a new Land Cruiser SUV.
Customers placing an order now may not have their Land Cruiser delivered until 2026.
Toyota has not confirmed the cause of the extreme delay. However, the problem is not due to the ongoing global semiconductor shortage.
Counting down the days
In a statement on its website, Toyota has said: ‘We sincerely apologise for the fact that Land Cruiser has been very well received, not only in Japan but also around the world, and it is expected that it will take a long time to deliver it after receiving an order’.
The company adds: ‘The delivery time for ordering from now on may be about four years. We will do our utmost to shorten the delivery time of our customers, and we appreciate your understanding’.
A report by BBC News notes that, unlike delays affecting other models, Toyota has said the Land Cruiser shortage is ‘not related to current semiconductor shortage or supply chain issue’.
Tackle the toughest terrain, eventually
The latest 300 Series is the first all-new Land Cruiser since 2007. Launched in June 2021, it makes use of the TNGA-F platform, which also underpins the North American-market Toyota Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV.
Toyota has dropped the option of a V8 engine for the 300 Series Land Cruiser. Depending on the market, buyers can pick from a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6, 4.0 naturally aspirated V6 or twin-turbo V6 diesel.
A new GR Sport trim level has been added, with unique styling and upgraded suspension. Toyota plans to use the Land Cruiser GR Sport in the 2023 Dakar Rally.
More than 10.6 million examples of the Land Cruiser have been built since 1951.
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