Honda’s self-driving car: A smooth ride when all goes right

TOKYO — Level 3 autonomous driving promises to let drivers take their hands off the wheel and their eyes off the road under certain conditions. So how does Honda Motor’s Legend sedan — the first passenger car on the market equipped with this technology — deliver on that promise? To answer that question, a fellow… Continue reading Honda’s self-driving car: A smooth ride when all goes right

Indonesian state companies set up EV battery developer

JAKARTA — Indonesia has an ambitious plan: to establish itself as a major player in the global supply chain for electric vehicles. In five years, the archipelago wants to have an integrated industry encompassing everything from upstream development — mining raw materials for use in EV batteries — to downstream — the manufacturing of batteries… Continue reading Indonesian state companies set up EV battery developer

Foxconn hits the gas on vision for ‘fabless’ EV future

TAIPEI — Foxconn Technology drew more than 1,200 companies from Taiwan and abroad to its inaugural supplier event Thursday for its electric-vehicle project as the iPhone assembler looks to expand its behind-the-scenes influence to another emerging industry. Foxconn, formally Hon Hai Precision Industry, said it would focus on manufacturing the vehicles for other companies and… Continue reading Foxconn hits the gas on vision for ‘fabless’ EV future

Great Wall builds buzz with budget EVs at Bangkok Motor Show

BANGKOK — China’s Great Wall Motors showed off its electric offerings at the Bangkok International Motor Show that kicked off Wednesday, highlighting the inroads made by Chinese automakers in the Thai market, long Japan’s turf. Held in the capital’s suburbs and running until April 4, the event is among Southeast Asia’s largest auto shows. Last… Continue reading Great Wall builds buzz with budget EVs at Bangkok Motor Show

Hyundai Motor places bet on selling more SUVs amid chip shortage

SEOUL — Hyundai Motor vowed on Wednesday to raise its portion of global SUV sales to 50% this year as the company struggles to boost profitability amid a shortage of key computer chips plaguing the automotive industry. South Korea’s largest automaker, which ranks as No. 5 globally in tandem with affiliate Kia Motors, set the… Continue reading Hyundai Motor places bet on selling more SUVs amid chip shortage

Chip-starved automakers shudder at Renesas plant’s 1-month halt

TOKYO — Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronics said Sunday that production may take up to a month to resume at a fire-damaged main factory in Hitachinaka, northeast of Tokyo. But considering the many processes in semiconductor fabrication, it may take over three months for supply chains return to normal. Renesas’ fire could not come at a… Continue reading Chip-starved automakers shudder at Renesas plant’s 1-month halt

Toyota invests in Chinese self-driving partner Momenta

TIANJIN, China — Toyota Motor has invested in Chinese autonomous-driving startup Momenta as part of a $500 million fundraising round, expanding the Japanese automaker’s development infrastructure in China as tensions between Beijing and the U.S. simmer. Momenta’s systems use deep learning to analyze information from a vehicle’s cameras and sensors and construct a map of its… Continue reading Toyota invests in Chinese self-driving partner Momenta

Toyota partially halts 4 North American plants amid plastics shortage

NEW YORK — Toyota Motor will suspended some production at four plants in the U.S. and Mexico, Nikkei learned Wednesday, owing to a disruption in supplies of plastic components and other parts after winter storm-related power outages in Texas. Some of the plants appear to have begun adjusting production around Thursday last week. The plants in question… Continue reading Toyota partially halts 4 North American plants amid plastics shortage

Honda to idle 5 North America plants for a week amid chip shortage

NEW YORK — Honda Motor will idle five factories in the U.S. and Canada for one week from March 22, it was learned on Tuesday. The decision comes amid continued shortages of semiconductors as well as delays in shipping goods from Asia, Honda officials said. The production halt will be a setback for the Japanese… Continue reading Honda to idle 5 North America plants for a week amid chip shortage

Nissan chases car shoppers with one-stop online buying

TOKYO — Car shoppers looking to buy a Nissan will need to reach no farther than their smartphones, with the automaker’s online program accommodating the preferences of coronavirus-weary consumers seeking to avoid the showroom and younger people making big-ticket purchases on the internet. Nissan Motor began rolling out a proprietary online system this February at… Continue reading Nissan chases car shoppers with one-stop online buying