With F1 return, Honda plays for carbon-neutral tech and U.S. fans

TOKYO — Honda Motor has done a U-turn on Formula One racing with a return to the circuit, hoping to ride the sport’s adoption of green fuels and electrification while maintaining its own U.S. brand appeal. In what will be its fifth stint on the circuit, the Japanese automaker said Wednesday that it will start supplying power units to the Aston… Continue reading With F1 return, Honda plays for carbon-neutral tech and U.S. fans

Honda to return to F1 racing in 2026 with Aston Martin

TOKYO — Honda Motor will return to the world of Formula One racing in 2026, the Japanese automaker announced on Wednesday. It will supply engines and other power units for the F1 team of the U.K.’s Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings. Honda stopped developing F1 engines in 2021 and withdrew from the market. But now… Continue reading Honda to return to F1 racing in 2026 with Aston Martin

Honda to return to Formula One racing in 2026 with Aston Martin

TOKYO — Honda Motor will return to the world of Formula One racing in 2026, the Japanese automaker announced on Wednesday. It will supply engines and other power units for the F1 team of the U.K.’s Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings. Honda stopped developing F1 engines in 2021 and withdrew from the market. But now… Continue reading Honda to return to Formula One racing in 2026 with Aston Martin

Panasonic joins Marubeni to supply electric commercial vehicles

OSAKA — Panasonic Holdings is teaming with Japanese trading group Marubeni to supply businesses with all-electric commercial vehicles along with recharging equipment to support the electrification of Japan’s logistics industry. The two companies intend to establish a 50-50 joint venture by June, and they already are in talks with logistics firms. The partners aim to… Continue reading Panasonic joins Marubeni to supply electric commercial vehicles

Indonesia’s nickel export ban spurs rush into vital EV metal supplier

JAKARTA — From Asia to Europe to the U.S., multinationals have made moves into Indonesia to secure access to its vast reserves of nickel, as the country’s export restrictions fuel competition for an essential metal for electric vehicle batteries. South Korean steelmaker POSCO Holdings on May 3 said it would would spend $441 million to… Continue reading Indonesia’s nickel export ban spurs rush into vital EV metal supplier

Toyota unit Daihatsu mishandles crash tests for 78,000 hybrids in Japan

OSAKA — Daihatsu Motor has found flawed data in collision safety tests affecting roughly 78,000 hybrid vehicles sold in Japan, the carmaker said Friday, marking the second such revelation at the Toyota Motor subsidiary in less than a month. The problem affects the Daihatsu Rocky and the Toyota Raize, which Daihatsu manufactures for the parent. Both models hit… Continue reading Toyota unit Daihatsu mishandles crash tests for 78,000 hybrids in Japan

Hyundai, Kia agree to $200m settlement over U.S. car thefts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp agreed to a consumer class-action lawsuit settlement worth $200 million over rampant car thefts of the South Korean automakers’ vehicles, lawyers for the owners and the automakers said on Thursday. In February, the automakers said they would offer software upgrades to 8.3 million U.S. vehicles without anti-theft… Continue reading Hyundai, Kia agree to $200m settlement over U.S. car thefts

Panasonic accelerates EV battery push under $5bn investment plan

OSAKA — Panasonic Holdings plans a record 700 billion yen ($5.05 billion) in capital spending for the fiscal year ending March 2024, with more than half going toward increasing output of electric-vehicle batteries. “We will help expand the EV market in North America,” President and CEO Yuki Kusumi said while presenting the group’s strategy Thursday.… Continue reading Panasonic accelerates EV battery push under $5bn investment plan

Geely inks deal to become No. 3 shareholder in Aston Martin

SHANGHAI — Zhejiang Geely Holding Group increases its stake in Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings to about 17%, becoming the British luxury sports car maker’s third-largest shareholder, under an agreement announced Thursday. The deal has China’s largest privately owned automaker investing about 234 million pounds ($290 million) to receive both existing and new shares. Aston… Continue reading Geely inks deal to become No. 3 shareholder in Aston Martin

China surpasses Japan as world’s top auto exporter

CHONGQING, China — China overtook Japan as the world’s top auto exporter in the first quarter, spurred by rising demand for electric vehicles and increased deliveries to Russia. China’s automobile exports for the January-March period jumped 58% from a year earlier to 1.07 million units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Go to… Continue reading China surpasses Japan as world’s top auto exporter