Suzuki to launch EVs by fiscal 2025, in India first

TOKYO — Japanese compact car maker Suzuki Motor will release its first all-electric vehicle by fiscal 2025, Nikkei has learned, a move that is likely to accelerate an EV shift in the category of compact cars. The new EV will be released first in India, Suzuki’s stronghold, to be followed by launches in Japan and… Continue reading Suzuki to launch EVs by fiscal 2025, in India first

VW to make EV batteries with China’s Guoxuan in Germany

FRANKFURT — Volkswagen will manufacture batteries for electric vehicles in Germany with a leading Chinese manufacturer, starting in 2025. The German auto group will build its second EV battery plant in Salzgitter in a joint effort with Guoxuan High-tech to produce low-cost batteries for economy EVs, the company said in a statement on last Tuesday.… Continue reading VW to make EV batteries with China’s Guoxuan in Germany

EV growth propels Denso to close value gap with Honda and Ford

NAGOYA — Is a car worth more than the sum of its parts? This is a question posed by Japanese automotive supplier Denso’s near dead heat in market capitalization with Honda Motor and Ford Motor. Denso’s market cap stood at 5.78 trillion yen ($52.59 billion) as of Thursday, roughly 70% higher than a year earlier. Honda’s… Continue reading EV growth propels Denso to close value gap with Honda and Ford

Honda ready for quicker shift to all-electrified lineup, CEO hints

TOKYO — Honda Motor is prepared to shift to selling only electrified vehicles earlier than planned if the European Union tightens regulations sooner, President and CEO Toshihiro Mibe said Friday in the first comment by a major Japanese automaker’s top executive on the EU proposal. “If the rules change, we’ll have no choice but to respond,”… Continue reading Honda ready for quicker shift to all-electrified lineup, CEO hints

EU Green Deal seeks to force shift to electric vehicles in 2035

BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT — Automakers from East Asia to Southeast Asia to North America are watching as the European Union seeks a de facto ban on sales of all new vehicles with internal combustion engines, including hybrids, by 2035, under a sweeping plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions. The European Commission’s European Green Deal also calls for… Continue reading EU Green Deal seeks to force shift to electric vehicles in 2035

Nissan to cover partners’ costs even if their EV parts go unused

TOKYO — Nissan Motor plans to compensate parts makers that join with it in developing electric vehicles so as to share burdens and deepen collaborative relationships, Nikkei has learned. The Japanese automaker will bear the suppliers’ costs when they miss an order or postpone development, aligning itself with a global trend as emerging EV makers… Continue reading Nissan to cover partners’ costs even if their EV parts go unused

Vietnam’s Vingroup aims to capture 1% of US auto market with EVs

HANOI — Top Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup aims to reach annual electric vehicle sales of 160,000 to 180,000 in the U.S. — the equivalent of 1% of all automobiles, electric or otherwise, sold in the country. Chairman and founder Pham Nhat Vuong announced the goal at the annual general meeting in late June, according to local media… Continue reading Vietnam’s Vingroup aims to capture 1% of US auto market with EVs

Chinese EV battery maker Envision to build $2.4bn plant for Renault

SHANGHAI — Chinese green tech company Envision Group plans to invest 2 billion euros ($2.4 billion) in a battery plant in France to supply Renault Group, underlining how Asian companies are aiming for a major slice of Europe’s electric vehicle supply chain. Envision and the French automaker — which is in a car making alliance… Continue reading Chinese EV battery maker Envision to build $2.4bn plant for Renault

Toyota chief personally invests $45m in self-driving smart city

NAGOYA — Toyota Motor President Akio Toyoda has invested 5 billion yen ($45.3 million) of his own money into a group unit building a smart city dominated by self-driving vehicles.  The investment in Woven Planet Holdings during the last fiscal year ended March was revealed in its annual securities report filed Thursday. Woven is working on cutting-edge… Continue reading Toyota chief personally invests $45m in self-driving smart city

Panasonic unloads entire Tesla stake

OSAKA — Panasonic sold its entire stake in key battery customer Tesla — a holding worth around 400 billion yen ($3.6 billion) — last fiscal year, Nikkei learned Friday. The move gives the Japanese company billions of dollars to fund new strategic investments, such as the $7.1 billion purchase of U.S. software company Blue Yonder.… Continue reading Panasonic unloads entire Tesla stake