Newer Toyota vehicles cannot be remotely started using the smart key.

Toyota explains its services and remote start strategy. The functionality will no longer be available for dongles.

The automotive world is constantly changing. Which makes sense as customer habits and technology change. Today it is more and more a matter of subscription. And manufacturers are not shy about offering subscriptions to their cars, unlocking a certain number of more or less useful features for a fee. Toyota does this, not without controversy.

Toyota explains its service strategy and remote start

Current Toyota owners are of course unhappy about having to pay a subscription to start their car remotely with a smart key, but what about future owners? The news is mixed. Indeed, the brand has told Roadshow that remote start will not be available on new car dongles. This will require a special mobile application of the brand. However, this feature will be free.

You may never have to pay for this feature. It was previously mentioned that the brand’s vehicles from 2018 to 2020 will only receive a free three-year trial of Connected Services, while some 2020 and future models will come with a 10-year free trial period. In other words, there is a good chance that you have changed your car before this free trial period expires.

Functionality will no longer be available on dongles

Still, such a solution will definitely not please those who love the ease of use of the key, or car owners who intend to keep their car for many years. It would then be necessary to pay for that subscription simply to be able to take advantage of the feature that the car was entitled to for most of its life.

And do not expect Toyota to drop this topic. Indeed, like many other manufacturers, Toyota relies on services to generate sustainable additional revenue that is more difficult to achieve with car sales alone. A remote launch certainly won’t be a big cash flow, as it will cost “only”$80 a year and only 10 years from now, but it’s undoubtedly the key to Toyota’s strategy for years to come.