WASHINGTON (Reuters) — U.S. auto safety regulators on Monday said they have opened an investigation into nearly 1.9 million Toyota RAV4 sport-utility vehicles over potential fire risks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the preliminary evaluation looking at 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles comes after 11 reports of fires. The agency said that some drivers experienced stalling… Continue reading US investigates nearly 1.9m Toyota RAV4s over fire risks
Author: Nikki News Feed
Toyota to start sale of fuel cell system to outside companies
NAGOYA (Kyodo) — Toyota Motor said Friday it will start selling in the spring its hydrogen-powered fuel cell system for possible use by train and ship operators as well as power companies. Toyota made the fuel cell system developed for the Mirai vehicle easier for other firms to use amid growing awareness about greener technologies. The… Continue reading Toyota to start sale of fuel cell system to outside companies
Tesla’s US factory closed for two days due to parts shortages
Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said the electric vehicle company’s Fremont, California plant shut down for two days this week due to “parts shortages” and had reopened on Wednesday. Shares of Tesla fell 8% during the day after Bloomberg reported that production of Tesla’s less expensive sedan, the Model 3, had been temporarily suspended, raising questions about whether… Continue reading Tesla’s US factory closed for two days due to parts shortages
China guides its self-driving startups into the fast lane
HONG KONG/ PALO ALTO, U.S. — When AutoX said in December that it had become the first Chinese company to test fully self-driving vehicles on open roads in the country, the result took a back seat to the fact that the test took place at all. The boast of 4-year-old Auto X about its test… Continue reading China guides its self-driving startups into the fast lane
Toyota delays opening of new Myanmar plant in wake of coup
BANGKOK — Toyota Motor has decided to postpone the opening of a new plant in Myanmar amid heightened political uncertainty following the Feb. 1 coup, Nikkei Asia has learned. The plant was scheduled to open this month. As a showdown continues between the military and demonstrators, the Japanese automaker has concluded it will be difficult… Continue reading Toyota delays opening of new Myanmar plant in wake of coup
Suzuki chairman Osamu Suzuki to step down
TOKYO — Osamu Suzuki, the 91-year-old chairman of Suzuki Motor, is to step down after leading the Japanese carmaker for more than 40 years and turning it into one of the world’s largest producers of compact cars. Suzuki led the company’s successful expansion into India. He also led Suzuki Motor to forge a capital tie-up… Continue reading Suzuki chairman Osamu Suzuki to step down
Samsung SDI to invest $849m to expand EV battery plant in Hungary
SEOUL (Reuters) — South Korean manufacturer Samsung SDI Co Ltd said it will invest 942 billion won ($849 million) to expand its electric vehicle (EV) battery factory in Hungary, a company official told Reuters on Wednesday. The firm, whose EV customers include Ford Motor Co and BMW AG, is also considering building another EV battery… Continue reading Samsung SDI to invest $849m to expand EV battery plant in Hungary
Apple supplier Foxconn’s EV platform to make debut this year
NEW TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan — Key iPhone assembler Foxconn says the first electric vehicles built using the company’s open software and hardware platform will be released by the end of this year. “This year will mark a significant year for Foxconn’s EV efforts. There will be two to three EV models using our MIH platform’s… Continue reading Apple supplier Foxconn’s EV platform to make debut this year
Earthquake reveals fractures in Japan’s auto supply chains
TOKYO — On Friday morning, less than a week after a 7.3-magnitude quake rocked northeastern Japan, a stream of cars from across the nation began flooding into a Hitachi suspension factory in Fukushima Prefecture that had been damaged in the upheaval. The procession represented a who’s who of Japan’s auto industry, from a car emblazoned with a Suzuki Motor logo… Continue reading Earthquake reveals fractures in Japan’s auto supply chains
Messy European exit to haunt Chinese EV maker Byton
HAMBURG, Germany — Byton, the formerly highflying Chinese electric vehicle startup which recently got a lifeline from Foxconn Technology Group, has largely abandoned its operations in Europe. While moves since October to halt payment of wages and rent will save the struggling carmaker money, they are likely to hinder the startup’s hopes of growing sales in the… Continue reading Messy European exit to haunt Chinese EV maker Byton