TOYOTA has revived old-fashioned metal car keys as it struggles to fulfill orders for semiconductors needed for its smart keys.
The global chip shortage has affected several industries, but this is the first announcement by Toyota that it will reintroduce mechanical keys for new models.
"As the shortage of semiconductors continues, this is a provisional measure aimed at delivering cars to customers as quickly as possible," Toyota said of the key shortage in a statement on Thursday.
Toyota says that new cars sold in their Japanese market would receive one electronic key and one traditional metal key, instead of the dual set of smart keys that new drivers are normally gifted, Reuters reported.
However, drivers do not have to go forever without their smart keys.
"As for the second smart key, we plan to hand it over as soon as it is ready," their statement continued.
READ MORE MOTORS
The shortage in chips has affected drivers worldwide, delaying car shipments and production, in addition to causing some drivers to have to wait years to wait for their proper key, the outlet reported.
The news comes just a week after the manufacturers of Toyota and Lexus revealed that they would likely fall short of their 9.7million vehicle fulfillment in their prediction.
Surprisingly, Redditors did not seem too pressed about the setback.
One user said in a thread of the Toyota subreddit: "My Tacoma was delivered to me this way. Got the 2nd key about 6 months after that when I asked for it."
Most read in Motors
Another in the same thread suggested that a keyed ignition is the primary mode of a vehicle, saying the keyless cars face all kinds of unforeseen issues, though the cars still have a push to start, and just a mechanical key for entry.
"When I worked in a garage the fobs were constantly going out on vehicles, didn’t matter the brand or the year," they said.
"It was a huge issue with VWs, you’d have to hold the damn thing and wave in in a specific pattern like you’re casting a spell with it.
"Also heard there’s a huge issue with new 4Runners being stolen by people hacking the keyless entry."
A very tech-savvy tech user also highlighted why this option is better than people may think.
Read More on The US Sun
"One smart key and one dumb key. It's like having the smart key function disabled for people with a pacemaker if they experience interference, except limited to a single FOB," they said.
"You take the dumb key FOB and hold it with the emblem facing the Start button, then press the Start button. Exact same procedure you would do if the battery in your smart key FOB died."
