HAMBURG, Germany — While most carmakers are struggling to get consumers into showrooms and opening their wallets amid worries from the coronavirus pandemic, Germany’s Volkswagen has managed in recent months to extend its lead as China’s top auto seller. Critical to this advance has been Jetta, a new entry-level brand VW launched in China last… Continue reading VW extends China market lead with new low-cost brand Jetta
Author: Nikki News Feed
Japan fails to win early end to auto tariffs in UK trade deal
TOKYO — Japan and the U.K. will agree to eliminate British tariffs on Japanese autos by 2026, despite a push by Tokyo for an earlier phase out, Nikkei has learned. The two countries are working toward an agreement in principle on a trade deal by the end of this month, ministers said Friday. Cars and agricultural products are two… Continue reading Japan fails to win early end to auto tariffs in UK trade deal
Mitsubishi Motors Chairman Masuko steps down
TOKYO — Mitsubishi Motors announced Friday that Osamu Masuko has stepped down as chairman and member of the board due to health concerns. Masuko joined Mitsubishi Motors in 2004from Mitsubishi Corp., its major shareholder and one of its supporter companies when the company was on the brink of a financial crisis as it struggled to deal… Continue reading Mitsubishi Motors Chairman Masuko steps down
Toyota posts net profit of $1.5bn for April-June despite COVID
TOKYO — Toyota Motor posted a net profit of 158 billion yen ($1.5 billion) for the three months ended in June, the automaker said Thursday. That was down 74% from the previous year, but the Japanese automaker stayed in the black even as its peers had loss-making quarters due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue at Toyota for April… Continue reading Toyota posts net profit of $1.5bn for April-June despite COVID
Mitsubishi eyes car production in Myanmar
TOKYO — Mitsubishi Motors is considering building vehicles in Myanmar, as the Japanese automaker deepens its commitment to Southeast Asia, CEO Takao Kato told Nikkei, charting a way forward in a market battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Kato said his company hopes to “collaborate” with Mitsubishi Corp., the trading house that owns a 20% stake in… Continue reading Mitsubishi eyes car production in Myanmar
China embarks on charm offensive toward Japanese companies
BEIJING — At a symposium with entrepreneurs in July, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the founder of Japanese electronics company Panasonic as a visionary alongside the likes of Thomas Edison. “Konosuke Matsushita was not only an authority on management, but an authority on innovation,” the leader said at the event in Beijing. A Panasonic representative was among… Continue reading China embarks on charm offensive toward Japanese companies
Japan’s battery startups take the world beyond lithium ion
OSAKA — Companies racing to introduce the successor to the batteries that power everything from our smartphones to drones to electric cars are closing in on their goal. But they are not alone. Startups have joined the fray to develop technologies for higher-performance power packs that can relegate today’s lithium-ion batteries to an earlier stage… Continue reading Japan’s battery startups take the world beyond lithium ion
Panasonic to supply Tesla Model 3 batteries that hold more juice
OSAKA — Panasonic will begin supplying higher-capacity batteries for Tesla’s Model 3 electric vehicles in September in a bid to keep an important customer close. The batteries will improve power storage capacity by 5% in part by using upgraded materials. The cells will be produced at the companies’ joint-venture Gigafactory 1 in the U.S. state of Nevada.… Continue reading Panasonic to supply Tesla Model 3 batteries that hold more juice
Mitsubishi Heavy set to oversee Japan’s homegrown fighter project
TOKYO — Japan’s Defense Ministry confirmed Friday it will award a contract to a single Japanese company to oversee its next-generation fighter jet project, part of an effort to preserve a domestic defense industry that has atrophied amid decades of U.S.-led development. The winning company — most likely Mitsubishi Heavy Industries — would subcontract with… Continue reading Mitsubishi Heavy set to oversee Japan’s homegrown fighter project
Japan group to bring quantum computers to the workplace
TOKYO — Leading Japanese universities and corporations have joined hands with IBM to develop practical quantum computing applications in finance, materials development and the broader business scene. “I believe that Japan will play an important role in implementing quantum computing technology to society ahead of rest of the world, and that industry-academia-government collaboration is necessary… Continue reading Japan group to bring quantum computers to the workplace