BMW to build 360,000 charging points in China to juice EV sales

HONG KONG — BMW plans to add 360,000 electric vehicle charging points across China this year as it aims to become a major EV player in the world’s largest car market. BMW said today it will collaborate with local partners, including EV charging infrastructure provider, TGood to build the charging points, of which 150,000 will… Continue reading BMW to build 360,000 charging points in China to juice EV sales

Suzuki’s India woes extend far beyond the pandemic

TOKYO — It is a market where Suzuki Motor once reigned as the undisputed champion. Forty years ago, nearly every passenger car sold in India was made by the Japanese automaker. Now this share is under 50%, and the competition only looks to increase. Suzuki still makes half its car sales in the country, and the automaker’s stock price… Continue reading Suzuki’s India woes extend far beyond the pandemic

Toyota’s strong sales and electric plans drive shares to record high

TOKYO — Toyota Motor’s stock price jumped 3.4% to close at 9,423 yen on the Tokyo market on Tuesday, reaching its highest-ever level. Shares in the Japanese automaker have climbed rapidly since mid-May as investors welcome its bullish sales forecast and ability to weather the global chip shortage thanks to its supply chain management. Its… Continue reading Toyota’s strong sales and electric plans drive shares to record high

Toyota and Honda shut production as Malaysia enters lockdown

SINGAPORE/TOKYO — Japanese automakers Toyota Motor and Honda Motor will shut down production in Malaysia on Tuesday as the nation goes into a lockdown, raising concerns that surging coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia will cripple global supply chains. Malaysia imposes a nationwide lockdown on Tuesday, shutting most industries through June 14. Auto manufacturers and steelmakers will be permitted to… Continue reading Toyota and Honda shut production as Malaysia enters lockdown

Cheaper lidar sensors brighten the future of autonomous cars

TOKYO — Prices of one key type of the sensors used in autonomous cars are falling rapidly, raising hopes of accelerating progress in the development of self-driving technology. Velodyne Lidar, the leading manufacturer of lidar sensors, has developed a product with a price only one-hundredth of those up until now. This dramatic drop in price… Continue reading Cheaper lidar sensors brighten the future of autonomous cars

Toyota to recycle hybrid and EV batteries for renewable energy use

TOKYO/NAGOYA — Toyota Motor has agreed to partner with Jera, a joint fuel-procurement venture between Tokyo Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power, in a bid to transform old batteries used for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles into power storage system for renewable energy, Nikkei has learned. The new storage system will consist of a lithium-ion battery and a nickel-metal hydride battery. The two… Continue reading Toyota to recycle hybrid and EV batteries for renewable energy use

Nissan to build EV battery plants in Japan and UK

TOKYO — Nissan Motor will tie up with a Chinese-owned battery maker, investing over 200 billion yen ($1.8 billion) to build new battery plants for electric vehicles in Japan and U.K., Nikkei has learned. The Japanese automaker will start turning out batteries at two new plants, one in Japan and one in the U.K., as… Continue reading Nissan to build EV battery plants in Japan and UK

China’s Li Auto shows pulse despite its self-drive tech woes

Shares in Li Auto soared on Wednesday despite the Chinese electric automaker announcing a slide back into loss and admitting its self-driving technology is not as good as that of its rivals. The strong one-day rise indicates that investors see potential in the Nasdaq-listed automaker, which beat expectations but still posted a net loss of 360… Continue reading China’s Li Auto shows pulse despite its self-drive tech woes

Hyundai charts hydrogen road map beyond autos

SEOUL/NAGOYA, Japan — Two black shipping containers bearing the Hyundai logo sit side by side in a corner of a thermal plant run by a power company in the South Korean city of Ulsan. The boxes hold fuel cell systems of the same type used in Hyundai Motor’s hydrogen-powered Nexo sport utility vehicle. Each container is a… Continue reading Hyundai charts hydrogen road map beyond autos

Ford and Toyota top self-driving technology league table

TOKYO — Leading carmakers such as Ford Motor and Toyota Motor are catching up with tech giants in the global race to develop self-driving technology as indicated by new patent data. The two companies claimed the top two positions on a list of most competitive firms in terms of patents related to autonomous driving technology.… Continue reading Ford and Toyota top self-driving technology league table