Toyota Research Institute Launches Next Phase of Collaborative Research With Diverse Roster of World-Class Academic Institutions

The next five-year phase includes investing more than $75 million in the academic institutions, making it one of the largest collaborative research programs by an automotive company in the world. “Our first five-year program pushed the boundaries of exploratory research across multiple fields, generating 69 patent applications and nearly 650 papers,” said Eric Krotkov, TRI… Continue reading Toyota Research Institute Launches Next Phase of Collaborative Research With Diverse Roster of World-Class Academic Institutions

German Manager Magazine: Autonomous Driving: Ranking of the leading companies from Waymo to Tesla000527

Who is better? Between Tesla-Boss Elon Musk (49) and John Krafcik (59), who runs the Alphabet subsidiary Waymo, which emerged from Google’s car project, has developed something that looks like an ego fight. Tesla’s approach has nothing to do with fully autonomous driving, Krafcik explained in the Interview with manager magazin. “It doesn’t work that… Continue reading German Manager Magazine: Autonomous Driving: Ranking of the leading companies from Waymo to Tesla000527

Imaweb Acquires Procar

Imaweb, a developer and provider of automotive and dealership digital software solutions in Europe, acquired Procar, an automotive digital software solutions provider in the DACH market. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. The acquisition of Procar will provide Imaweb with a significant presence in DACH, the largest automotive market in Europe. The acquisition… Continue reading Imaweb Acquires Procar

Nissan flips the switch on electric reboot in China

By Norihiko Shirouzu 7 Min Read BEIJING (Reuters) – Nissan Motor is accelerating the rollout of electric vehicles in China under its main brand and its local, no-frills Venucia marque as it overhauls its strategy in the world’s biggest auto market, four sources told Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Nissan’s electric vehicle (EV) Leaf is displayed at… Continue reading Nissan flips the switch on electric reboot in China

EU-UK trade deal: EU automobile manufacturers react

Brussels, 24 December 2020 – The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) welcomes the deal struck today between the European Union and the United Kingdom on their future trading relations. This agreement is a great relief for European automobile manufacturers, allowing the sector to avoid the catastrophic effect of a no-deal Brexit. “There is no other… Continue reading EU-UK trade deal: EU automobile manufacturers react

Toyota forges ahead with 8.25m vehicle goal despite chip crunch

NAGOYA, Japan — Toyota Motor is on track to produce about 8.25 million vehicles worldwide for the year ending in March, largely sticking to its previous forecast even though a global semiconductor shortage has disrupted the auto industry in recent weeks, Nikkei learned Monday. The automaker released a forecast in November with that figure, a 6% decrease from fiscal 2019 for its Toyota and Lexus… Continue reading Toyota forges ahead with 8.25m vehicle goal despite chip crunch

Toyota accepts staff from halted aircraft factories of Mitsubishi Heavy

TOKYO — Toyota Motor’s subsidiary Toyota Auto Body is taking several hundred employees from aircraft component makers including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, as auto demand recovers while aviation continues to struggle. Employees from companies such as Mitsubishi Heavy and Kawasaki are being transferred to Toyota’s Yoshiwara Plant in Aichi Prefecture, which makes… Continue reading Toyota accepts staff from halted aircraft factories of Mitsubishi Heavy

Renesas, NXP and other chipmakers raise prices on surging auto demand

TOKYO — Japan’s Renesas Electronics, the Netherlands’ NXP Semiconductors and other chipmakers are raising prices on semiconductors that go into cars and telecom equipment as they attempt to maneuver out of a squeeze created by soaring demand and limited foundry capacity. Some observers expect chip shortages for another six months, a drought that is likely… Continue reading Renesas, NXP and other chipmakers raise prices on surging auto demand

Asia’s chip crunch slams the brakes on carmakers’ COVID recovery

TOKYO/TAIPEI — Recovering demand for cars should make this a great time to be selling to the automotive industry — but for a Japanese executive at an affiliate of one of the country’s biggest software developers, it is deeply frustrating. The software he sells for cars is useless without computer chips to run it. And they are… Continue reading Asia’s chip crunch slams the brakes on carmakers’ COVID recovery

Toyota-owned Daihatsu, a gas engine stalwart, tries again in hybrid cars

OSAKA — Japan’s Daihatsu Motor — the country’s only major automaker to develop all gasoline-powered cars — plans to roll out a hybrid compact SUV this year in a second attempt at electrified vehicles, Nikkei has learned. The hybrid version of the Rocky sport utility vehicle will feature technology co-developed by Daihatsu’s parent, Toyota Motor. Hybrid… Continue reading Toyota-owned Daihatsu, a gas engine stalwart, tries again in hybrid cars