TOKYO — Japanese automakers, long criticized for lagging foreign counterparts in launching fully electric vehicles, are being rewarded now for their steady efforts to develop energy-saving hybrid cars as demand for EVs slows in major markets like the U.S. and Europe. Demand for hybrids, which combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, is… Continue reading Hybrids in U.S., Europe reward Toyota and Honda as EV sales slow
Author: Nikki News Feed
EV motor alloy from Japan’s Proterial trims power use by 5%
TOKYO — Japanese metal materials maker Proterial has developed a way to make a new alloy for electric vehicle motors that it says can reduce power consumption by up to 5%, allowing for smaller and faster motors. The company, formerly known as Hitachi Metals, has succeed in processing the alloy into material for EV motor cores. Go to… Continue reading EV motor alloy from Japan’s Proterial trims power use by 5%
CATL, BYD, others unite in China for solid-state battery breakthrough
BEIJING — China’s battery and car makers have united as part of a government-led drive to commercialize all solid-state batteries, challenging Japan and the West in an area of technology that could revolutionize the electric vehicle market. Aiming to build a supply chain for solid-state batteries by 2030, Beijing in January set up a consortium,… Continue reading CATL, BYD, others unite in China for solid-state battery breakthrough
Indonesia election, Japan H3 rocket launch, Kakao earnings
Welcome to Your Week in Asia. Indonesia holds its presidential election this week, as the nation decides on its leader for the next five years. A day later, Japan will release gross domestic product figures for the October-December period. Asia’s second-largest economy will, the same day, witness the launch of its H3 next-generation rocket into space.… Continue reading Indonesia election, Japan H3 rocket launch, Kakao earnings
Scandal-hit Daihatsu says it will take 40% longer to develop new cars
OSAKA — Embattled Japanese automaker Daihatsu Motor will extend vehicle development periods by 40% and significantly increase inspectors, the company said in a report Friday, as it vowed to put in place safeguards against cheating on safety standards. Soichiro Okudaira, president of the Toyota subsidiary, delivered the report to Japanese Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito, who… Continue reading Scandal-hit Daihatsu says it will take 40% longer to develop new cars
Huawei rolls out ultrafast EV chargers in China, taking on Tesla
GUANGZHOU — Huawei Technologies plans to install 100,000 fast EV-charging stations in China this year, including units more than twice as fast as Tesla’s, providing infrastructure that could give a boost to fast-charging vehicles from Chinese automakers. A charging station advertising 1 kilometer of range for every second of charging can be found in the… Continue reading Huawei rolls out ultrafast EV chargers in China, taking on Tesla
China pushes EV makers to localize in overseas markets
BEIJING — The Chinese government released guidelines to support its EV industry on Wednesday, calling on automakers to conduct research and development overseas and participate in setting international standards. The move appears to be in response to growing concerns in Europe and the U.S. about rising sales of inexpensive electric vehicles from the country. Go… Continue reading China pushes EV makers to localize in overseas markets
LG Chem signs $19bn deal with GM to supply battery materials
SEOUL — LG Chem has signed a 24.7 trillion won ($18.6 billion) deal to supply electric vehicle battery materials to General Motors over the course of a decade. The South Korean chemical company announced on Wednesday that it would supply at least 500,000 tonnes of cathode materials, enough to manufacture batteries for 5 million EVs, to the… Continue reading LG Chem signs $19bn deal with GM to supply battery materials
Toyota to invest in TSMC arm for 2nd Kumamoto chip plant in Japan
TOKYO — Toyota Motor will invest in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s Japanese subsidiary to fund the construction of a second chip plant in Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture, the two companies announced on Tuesday. Existing investors including Sony and Denso will also make additional investments into the unit, Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, TSMC said, confirming an earlier report… Continue reading Toyota to invest in TSMC arm for 2nd Kumamoto chip plant in Japan
Toyota raises profit forecast to record high amid strong sales
TOKYO — Toyota Motor on Tuesday reported a net profit of 3.94 trillion yen ($26.5 billion) for the April-December period, up 107.9% on year amid strong sales of hybrid cars. The automaker revised its annual net profit forecast upward to 4.5 trillion yen, up 83.6% on year. It had formerly forecast a full-year net profit… Continue reading Toyota raises profit forecast to record high amid strong sales