Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd. (TYO:5191) plans to bolster the company’s seal business for elastomer material used in waterproof connector seals fastened to wire harnesses. Connector seal sales in fiscal 2016 were around 8.5 billion yen ($76.11 million), but Sumitomo Riko is planning to increase sales to 14 billion yen for fiscal 2020, which would mark...
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Germany’s ZF Unveils New Self-Driving Concept Car
German-based ZF Friedrichshafen AG recently unveiled its Vision Zero Vehicle, a concept car equipped with autonomous-driving capabilities and an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). The vehicle is equipped with what ZF calls comfort steering, which uses sensors to detect and avoid uneven road surfaces during autonomous driving. With the car’s ADAS, ZF has unveiled for...
Yokohama Rubber Turns Focus to Truck, Bus and Industrial Machine Tires
Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (TYO:5101) is angling to move quickly in expanding its commercial tire business sales, including those for truck and bus tires. The company aims to boost sales to 200 billion yen ($1.79 billion), an increase of 20 percent. The company will look to expand its sales network for industrial-use tires and boost...
Hitachi AMS Shifts Focus to Electric Mobility and Autonomous Driving
Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd. (Hitachi AMS) will start beefing up its operations concerning electric mobility and autonomous driving. The company is looking to win orders from automakers that are supplying or have decided to adopt electric mobility solutions and autonomous driving products. This is all happening as the industry assumes an accelerated spread of electric...
Sanden to Establish Integrated Production, Supply of HVAC Units in Europe for DAF Trucks
Sanden Holdings Corp. (TYO:6444) subsidiary Sanden Automotive Climate Control Systems Corp. has announced that it will supply heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and control units, to Netherlands-based DAF Trucks NV, a subsidiary of Paccar Inc., starting in July. Sanden will establish its first fully integrated European production system – from product development to mass...
WP 29 to Work on International Safety Standards for Hands-Free Driving
The U.N.’s World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP29) will begin developing safety standards this autumn for autonomous driving starting at Level 3, which covers conditional automation. Having taken the initiative in deliberations at WP29, Japan will also take the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and cybersecurity measures into consideration as the country seeks...
GS Yuasa to Construct New Lead–Acid Battery Factory in Turkey
GS Yuasa Corp. (TYO:6674) has announced that it will construct a new factory in Turkey for automotive lead–acid batteries. Operations are scheduled to begin toward the end of 2018 with a production increase planned for batteries for start-stop vehicles. The company aims to increase its annual production capacity of lead–acid batteries by 1.5 times to...
Mitsubishi Electric Tackles Autonomous Driving From Two Sides
Mitsubishi Electric Corp. (TYO:6503) President and CEO Masaki Sakuyama recently revealed his company’s plans for realizing autonomous driving. Speaking at a business strategy briefing in Tokyo, Sakuyama said Mitsubishi Electric intends to focus on developing both autonomous systems and cooperative vehicle–infrastructure systems. The company is seeking to develop autonomous systems that will control autonomous driving...
ZF and Hella Form Partnership to Develop Autonomous Driving Technology
German-based ZF Friedrichshafen AG, commonly referred to as ZF, announced on June 20 that it has entered into a strategic partnership with German electrical components manufacturer Hella kGaA Hueck and Co. whereby the two companies will jointly develop camera modules and radar systems for autonomous cars. In an environment where autonomous driving technology is rapidly...
Honda Moves Toward Domestic Procurement for New Chinese-Market EV
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (TYO:7267) will begin locally procuring batteries and motors for an electric vehicle (EV) to be launched exclusively for the Chinese market in 2018. Thus far, Honda has supplied batteries and motors for hybrid vehicles (HVs) in China with exports from Japan. Utilizing the EV launch as an opportunity, however, the company...
ISID Develops 3D Vehicle Data Sharing System Using VR Technology
Information Services International-Dentsu Ltd. (TYO:4812), commonly referred to as ISID, announced on June 20 that it has developed a prototype remote 3D vehicle data sharing system using virtual reality (VR) technology for Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203). This system will allow people in remote locations to communicate and share full-size vehicle models over the internet. Toyota...
HP Japan to Launch Industrial-Grade 3D Printer With Mass Production Capabilities
Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd. announced on June 20 its development of a industrial-use 3D printer able to mass-produce printed components. The printer, created in collaboration with Mutoh Industries Ltd. and Ricoh Co. Ltd. (TYO:7752), is set to be launched in Japan this August. HP Japan has designed the new product using proprietary technology, allowing it to...
GLM, Teijin Make Strides to Commercialize Lightweight Resin Windshields
GLM Co. Ltd., a venture-backed electric vehicle (EV) company based in Kyoto, announced on June 19 that it is aiming to commercialize the world’s first resin windshield in cars driving on public roads. Jointly develop with Teijin Ltd. (TYO:3401), resin windshields are at least 30 percent lighter than those using glass. The company plans to...
Taiho Kyogo Develops Lubrication System to Cut Oil, Fuel Consumption
Taiho Kogyo Co. Ltd. (TYO:6470) is accelerating the development of a new lubrication system as part of its new business activities. The company is collaborating with a Japanese car maker to develop its Cam-Shower, which will be able to supply lubricating oil to the entire camshaft evenly through optimized design of the oil passages. Besides...
Uchihama Kasei Develops Automotive Interior Resin With Natural Fiber Texture
Uchihama Kasei Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Aichi-based Kojima Industries Corp., has recently developed an automotive interior resin containing conspicuous natural fibers. The company used these fibers with the initial goal of reducing CO2 emissions in resin part manufacturing; however, by allowing the fiber to surface in the resin, a leather-like texture was achieved. The...
Schaeffler Develops Sensor Coating Technology for 3D Surfaces
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG has developed a coating technology called Sensotect, which makes it possible to add sensor functions to objects with three-dimensional surfaces. The technology involves coating parts with sensor circuitry 2–3 microns thick, enabling detection of factors such as weight, vibration and heat. Used on automotive wheel bearings, the coating can...
Bridgestone Holds Opening Ceremony for New Tire Factory in Russia
Bridgestone Corp. (TYO:5108) recently held an opening ceremony for a newly established passenger car tire factory in Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia. The factory primarily supplies tires to the region encompassing Russia and the CIS and is operated by Bridgestone Tire Manufacturing C.I.S. LLC, a newly established tire manufacturing company jointly funded by Bridgestone and Mitsubishi Corp....
Subaru to Equip Cars With Autonomous Driving Technology for Expressways This Summer
Subaru Corp. (TYO:7270) has developed autonomous driving technology that automatically controls the car’s accelerator, brakes and steering wheel for all speed ranges on expressways. The company will first employ this technology in the new Levorg and WRX S4 models that will launch this summer, eventually making it standard in almost all of the company’s vehicles....
ZMP Partners with Hinomaru Kotsu to Develop Ride-Hailing App for Self-Driving Taxis
Two Tokyo-based companies, robot venture ZMP Inc. and taxi firm Hinomaru Kotsu Co. Ltd., announced on June 15 that they will develop a ride-hailing app in anticipation of taxis with autonomous driving technology. The app will allow users to hail both self-driving taxis as well as those with a human behind the wheel. The companies’...
Gestamp Automocion Establishes First R&D Center in Japan
Major Spanish automotive parts maker Gestamp Automocion SA has established its first Japanese R&D center in Chuo-ku Ward, Tokyo. Company chairman and CEO Francisco Jose Riberas said that by enhancing development in Japan, the company will soon double its current 7-percent ratio of global sales for parts developed for Japanese automakers. With operations scheduled to...
Sawafuji Electric to Ramp up Engine Starter Production in Thailand
Sawafuji Electric Co. Ltd. (TYO:6901) plans within the year to relocate its plant in Thailand to a new location in the country to boost production capacity for engine starters. Getting an increase in orders for the engine starters produced at its Nitta Plant in Gunma Prefecture, Japan, the company will relocate its Thai plant and...
Toyota Names Google and Apple as Rivals at Shareholder Meeting
Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203) held its 113th annual general meeting of shareholders at the company’s headquarters in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture on June 14. The Japanese automaker’s president, Akio Toyoda, said the company will need to consider various options in the future, including M&A deals. He also said Toyota will take an aggressive stance to raise...
METI to Subsidize 150-Kilowatt Ultrahigh-Speed Charging Stations
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) recently announced its plans to subsidize ultrahigh-speed charging stations that can charge electric vehicles (EVs) in around 10 minutes. Provisions will be established as part of the subsidy system for this fiscal year at an amount of 2.3 billion yen ($20.71 million). In addition to preparing for...
BASF Forecasts “Translucid” Cool-Toned Colors for Cars in Japan
Germany’s BASF SE revealed its predictions for automotive color trends beyond the next 3–5 years in Tokyo on June 14. For Japan, the company forecasts an uptick in cool-toned base colors of blue, red and gray to come in line with consumers desiring a feeling of safety and security. Globally, BASF is predicting a design...
Porsche Japan to Introduce EV Model in 2020, Extend PHV Lineup
Porsche Japan KK will launch domestic sales of a new electric vehicle (EV) in 2020, with plans to add plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) to its model lineup before then. By expanding its product lineup, the company is aiming to raise the ratio of EV and PHV sales volume to at least 10 percent of total...
ZF Develops Seat-Integrated Center Airbag System
Germany-based ZF Friedrichshafen AG, commonly referred to as ZF, announced that it has developed a seat-integrated center airbag system, which deploys from the center section of the car’s interior to prevent lateral head movement and occupant interaction when far side collisions occur. The system is the first safety related technology ZF has developed since entering...
Seven Companies to Make 3.7B Yen Joint Investment in Dynamic Map Planning
Seven companies, including Innovation Network Corp. of Japan and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. (TYO:6503), announced on June 13 a total investment amount of 3.7 billion yen ($33.69 million) to be made for a third-party allocation of shares being issued by Dynamic Map Planning Co. Ltd. (DMP). Headed by Tsutomu Nakajima and based in Minato-ku Ward, Tokyo,...
METI Speeds up Deregulation of Hydrogen Stations
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) plans to further accelerate its easing of regulations concerning hydrogen stations. METI has until now been revising regulations primarily to reduce costs for the construction of hydrogen stations and tanks. Now, however, the ministry plans to revise its regulations concerning safety inspections and approve of remote monitoring...
MLIT Decides on New Policy for Bringing Autonomous Driving to Japan’s Roads
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has decided on a new policy for tackling autonomous driving technology. In addition to developing devices for providing information enabling autonomous driving vehicles to merge smoothly onto expressways, MLIT will begin verification testing of autonomous driving technology in mountainous areas, as well as in new towns...
Konica Minolta and Pioneer Establish Joint Venture for OLED Lighting
Konica Minolta Inc. (TYO:4902) and Pioneer Corp. (TYO:6773) have announced their establishment of a JV for OLED lighting business, Konica Minolta Pioneer OLED Inc. The new JV will conduct the business of planning and production, product development, production technology development and marketing functions for both companies’ OLED lighting business. The business scope will also be...
