TOKYO — While Japanese automakers lag Tesla and Volkswagen in electric-vehicle sales, they hold an advantage in critical EV technology, with Toyota Motor ranking first worldwide based on the importance of its U.S. patents, new research finds. Nikkei, in partnership with Tokyo-based research firm Patent Results, scored global companies on the competitiveness of their EV-related… Continue reading Toyota takes commanding lead in EV patents but no match for Tesla in sales
Author: Nikki News Feed
Toyota leads in critical EV patents while eating Tesla’s dust in sales
TOKYO — While Japanese automakers lag Tesla and Volkswagen in electric-vehicle sales, they hold an advantage in critical EV technology, with Toyota Motor ranking first worldwide based on the importance of its U.S. patents, new research finds. Nikkei, in partnership with Tokyo-based research firm Patent Results, scored global companies on the competitiveness of their EV-related… Continue reading Toyota leads in critical EV patents while eating Tesla’s dust in sales
Alibaba-backed Chinese car wash YGL achieves unicorn status
HONG KONG — Alibaba-backed self-service car wash company Yigongli (YGL) has raised “hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars” across two tranches in a Series D round to become China’s latest unicorn, a company valued at over $1 billion. The transactions include a Series D1 round from Sigma Delta Partners Investment, which focuses on prime properties… Continue reading Alibaba-backed Chinese car wash YGL achieves unicorn status
Maruti to halve output next month as chip shortage hits
India’s biggest car maker Maruti Suzuki warned on Tuesday its vehicle production in September will tumble by 60% due to a chip shortage, joining a slew of global automakers facing a pandemic-led paucity of critical components. Maruti had flagged a partial production impact in August, but the output cut in its plants in the states… Continue reading Maruti to halve output next month as chip shortage hits
China’s auto industry calls for standardized self-driving claims
HONG KONG — Drivers, auto company executives and academics in China are calling for clearer industry standards in the marketing of vehicles with driver assist functions, after a fatal accident involving the technology sparked a new round of concern over whether motorists are being misled about its capabilities. They say the imprecise, sometimes misleading, claims… Continue reading China’s auto industry calls for standardized self-driving claims
Toyota autonomous bus hits Tokyo Paralympian, taking him out of match
TOKYO (Kyodo) — A visually impaired Paralympian has been left with injuries that will take about two weeks to heal after being hit by a Toyota Motor autonomous bus running in the athletes’ village, police said Friday. The Paralympian, Japanese judoka Aramitsu Kitazono, competing in the men’s 81-kilogram division, will miss his match scheduled for… Continue reading Toyota autonomous bus hits Tokyo Paralympian, taking him out of match
Geely’s EV brand scores $500m investment led by CATL and Intel
BEIJING — A luxury electric vehicle unit of China’s Geely has partnered with top EV battery maker CATL and other investors to accelerate the development of new technologies. Zeekr Intelligent Technology, which operates Geely’s premium EV brand, signed strategic investment partnerships with five companies including Intel Capital, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group announced Friday. The partners will gain a 5.6% stake in… Continue reading Geely’s EV brand scores $500m investment led by CATL and Intel
Huawei’s smart car partnership model comes under scrutiny
As Huawei Technologies gathers pace on its push into smart cars, industry insiders closely following the Chinese telecom giant’s shift away from consumer electronics and into the competitive auto space have raised concerns over the company’s partnership models with domestic carmakers. Since pivoting into China’s automotive industry following a series of Trump-era sanctions on the… Continue reading Huawei’s smart car partnership model comes under scrutiny
ASEAN auto parts hub buckles under virus outbreaks
SINGAPORE/HANOI — Coronavirus outbreaks tearing through Southeast Asia have triggered a wave of production cuts at automotive suppliers, with the ripple effect shutting down assembly plants far beyond the region. Swiss chipmaker STMicroelectronics was informed this month that a factory in the southern Malaysian state of Johor would have to suspend operations. More than 200 workers have… Continue reading ASEAN auto parts hub buckles under virus outbreaks
China data rules to squeeze overseas development of self-driving tech
BEIJING — China’s new rules on the handling of automotive data will take effect Oct. 1 and build a barrier against foreign companies from accessing driving records and onboard images, a move that will hamper their own efforts to advance self-driving technology. Draft rules based on the nation’s new slew of legislation governing data, were first published in May, with the… Continue reading China data rules to squeeze overseas development of self-driving tech