LONDON (Reuters) — Japanese carmaker Honda said it would halt output at its British factory from Monday to Thursday next week due to COVID-19 related global supply chain issues, the latest production suspension in recent weeks. “The situation is currently being monitored with a view to re-start production on Friday 22 January,” the company said… Continue reading Honda to halt UK car output due to COVID-related supply issues
Author: Nikki News Feed
Cheaper Tesla? Panasonic to develop cobalt-free battery
TOKYO — Panasonic aims to make cobalt-free batteries available for Tesla’s electric vehicles in two to three years, as the Japanese electronics manufacturer tries to keep pace with the U.S. automaker’s ambitious mission to bring EVs into the mainstream quickly. “Two or three years from now, we will be able to introduce a cobalt-free, high energy-density cell,” Shawn Watanabe,… Continue reading Cheaper Tesla? Panasonic to develop cobalt-free battery
Toyota shut Chinese line for 2 days due to global chip shortage
NAGOYA, Japan/GUANGZHOU — Toyota Motor reopened a production line at a Chinese assembly plant Tuesday evening after a two-day shutdown, as the site became the company’s second facility affected by a chip shortage slamming automakers worldwide. The Japanese carmaker had halted operations on its third line at GAC Toyota Motor, the joint venture with China’s… Continue reading Toyota shut Chinese line for 2 days due to global chip shortage
Apple Car expected to shake up auto industry in Asia and world
BEIJING — Global information technology leader Apple is highly likely to break into the automobile sector. The American company is reportedly planning to create self-driving electric vehicles manufactured by an automaker under a tie-up agreement using a business model similar to its iPhone production. A potential Apple Car, if realized, is thought certain to affect the competitive landscape of the… Continue reading Apple Car expected to shake up auto industry in Asia and world
Baidu to join China EV race with Geely support
HONG KONG — Chinese technology group Baidu, best known for its internet search engine, is set to make a late entry into China’s heated electric car race. Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, China’s largest private automotive group, will act as a strategic partner. The move positions Baidu as the latest Chinese challenger to Tesla at a… Continue reading Baidu to join China EV race with Geely support
Nissan to cut car production due to lack of chips
TOKYO — Nissan Motor is to reduce production of automobiles due to a lack of semiconductors, Nikkei has learned. The Japanese automaker will cut production of its flagship Note compact car by 5,000 units in January. The production reduction may continue in February. The use of semiconductors in smartphones and communication base stations is increasing,… Continue reading Nissan to cut car production due to lack of chips
Tesla’s Chinese rivals strike back with new models
HONG KONG — Upstart Chinese challengers to Elon Musk’s Tesla are raising the stakes in the race to carve up the world’s largest electric vehicle market with plans to launch new models for the year ahead. Nio, the U.S.-listed carmaker whose market value rose more than 12-fold during 2020, will launch its first flagship sedan… Continue reading Tesla’s Chinese rivals strike back with new models
Hyundai confirms talks with Apple on possible EV project
SEOUL — Hyundai Motor shares surged nearly 20% on Friday after South Korea’s biggest automaker confirmed — but then later played down — reports that it is in talks with Apple to develop self-driving electric vehicles. “We’ve been receiving requests for potential cooperation from various companies regarding developing autonomous EVs. No decisions have been made… Continue reading Hyundai confirms talks with Apple on possible EV project
Sumitomo teams with Mahindra to help Japan’s carmakers go digital
TOKYO — Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp. and India’s Tech Mahindra have launched a joint venture to offer information-technology-based design and development services to Japan’s automakers and auto parts producers as the industry undergoes digital transformation. SCTM Engineering, the 50-50 venture in Tokyo, will draw on Tech Mahindra’s track record of automotive engineering working chiefly… Continue reading Sumitomo teams with Mahindra to help Japan’s carmakers go digital
Honda cuts car production on massive chip shortage
TOKYO — Honda Motor will reduce vehicle production due to a supply crunch in semiconductors, Nikkei has learned, a sign that a pandemic-spurred global shortage is threatening the auto industry. The Japanese automaker will first shrink production by about 4,000 units this month. The change will mainly affect the Fit subcompact manufactured at a plant in… Continue reading Honda cuts car production on massive chip shortage