Toyota's 'Factory Upgrade' Program In Japan Lets You Pay For New Features In Your Older Car - Jalopnik

Toyota is introducing a “Factory Upgrade” program in Japan that lets owners pay dealers to install factory-developed add-ons for older Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The program is framed as an alternative to “planned obsolescence,” offering retrofits instead of forcing wholesale replacement. As of now, the eligible models aren’t extremely old, with the oldest listed being a 2004 Hiace. The report notes that brand-new infotainment systems are rare under the program. One example is fitting a 12.3-inch touchscreen to a current-generation Prius for the yen equivalent of $1,060, assuming buyers originally chose the base screen. Other available upgrades include leather steering wheels, added ambient lighting, remote start retrofits, and converting USB-A ports to USB-C. For the Lexus LC, the listed options are limited to remote A/C start and orange brake calipers.