Mazda Motor Corp. (TYO:7261) has announced that it will discontinue its offering of full hybrid vehicles (HVs) as part of the company’s next-generation product rollout for 2019. Hybrid technology is currently used in Mazda’s Axela, a domestic sedan first launched in 2013. However, sales of the Axela hybrid have not grown as expected, and the...
EV
Volkswagen to Launch First Diesel Model in Japan in 20 Years
Volkswagen Group Japan KK (VGJ) announced on Oct. 11 that it will launch a diesel engine model in Japan for 2018, marking the first time in 20 years that the company has brought such a vehicle to the Japanese market. The diesel engine will be offered in the company’s midsize Passat – in both the...
Honda to Close Sayama Plant, Aims to Consolidate Operations at Yorii Plant by 2021
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (TYO:7267) announced on Oct. 4 that it will consolidate operations from its Sayama Automobile Plant into its Yorii Automobile Plant, both of which are located in Saitama Prefecture. The consolidation is expected to be completed by 2021. Along with the consolidation, Honda signed an agreement to consider making the completed vehicle...
Toshiba Reveals Prototype Next-Gen LiB With Increased Capacity, Rapid Recharging
Toshiba Corp. (TYO:6502) announced on Oct. 3 that it has successfully completed a prototype for a new version of its SCiB lithium-ion battery (LiB). For this prototype, Toshiba has switched its anode material to titanium–niobium oxide (TNO), which has twice the capacity of alternative material graphite. The new battery’s ultra-rapid recharge technology allows it to...
Japanese Government Promotes Fuel Cell Trucks, Buses as Part of Hydrogen Strategy
The Japanese government has listed buses and trucks for fuel cell vehicle (FCV) development as part of the country’s basic hydrogen strategy, which will be fully compiled at the end of the year. As such large vehicles require a lot fuel, this will lead to improved profitability of hydrogen stations. The government has decided also...
Toyota, Mazda, Denso to Develop EV Technology Together
Toyota Motor Corp. (TYO:7203), Mazda Motor Corp. (TYO:7261) and Denso Corp. (TYO:6902) recently announced that they have signed an agreement that establishes a new company for the joint development of electric vehicle (EV)-related technology. With Toyota and Mazda agreeing to a capital tie-up in August of this year, the new company marks a continuation of...
Nissan to Incorporate Both EV and Engine-Driven Platforms Into Electric Models
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (TYO:7201) plans to develop electric vehicles (EVs) using EV-specific and engine-driven vehicle platforms. With the performance and costs required for EVs differing based on region and vehicle size class, Nissan will use both chassis types to prepare EV variations suited for market needs. In doing so, the automaker will look to...
Bosch Targets 2019 for Mass Production of New Powertrain Unit
German-based Robert Bosch GmbH recently announced the development of its new e-axle powertrain, which combines motor, inverter and transmission components into one unit. The e-axle is scheduled to go into mass production in or around 2019. Compared to when these components are separate, the new powertrain improves energy efficiency while reducing weight and cost. The...
Honda’s New Urban EV Concept Car Makes World Debut
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (TYO:7267) has unveiled to the world its all-new electric vehicle (EV) at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. Named the Honda Urban EV Concept, the new car is built on a newly developed EV platform and will form the basis of a production model EV to go to market in Europe in...
Honda to Stop Selling Diesel Vehicles in Europe
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (TYO:7267) has decided not to meet Europe’s latest exhaust gas regulations for diesel engines. This means Honda will stop selling diesel engine vehicles in Europe by August 2018. Environmental regulations are pushing up demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in China and other markets around the world. Having sold only a limited...
METI Pushes New Development System to Outfit Cars With All-Solid-State LiBs
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will shake up how Japan develops all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) for automobiles. Beginning next April, automakers, battery manufacturers and other organizations will shift to a joint development system with a goal of commencing mass production in the early 2020s. All-solid-state LiBs have an energy density about 30...
GKN Driveline Japan to Double Multi-Mode eTransmission Production
GKN Driveline Japan Ltd. has announced plans to double production of its GKN Multi-Mode eTransmission drive system by late 2019 or 2020. Headed by President Adam Touhig, the Tochigi-based firm intends to increase production from the current 30,000 units to 60,000 units per year. The GKN Multi-Mode eTransmission is an integrated drive system incorporating a...
Nissan Unveils Next-Gen Leaf With ProPilot Self-Driving Technology
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (TYO:7201) on Sept. 6 unveiled a full redesign of the company’s Nissan Leaf electric vehicle (EV). The new model is fitted with ProPilot, Nissan’s autonomous driving technology for use in single-lane traffic on highways. ProPilot Park, a new addition to the technology, will allow for automatic parking. Nissan has also increased...
METI Signals Intent to Continue Autonomous Driving Trials With 2018 Budget Request
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has released its budget request for fiscal 2018. The total allocation being sought is near 1.42 trillion yen ($12.93 billion), up 6.2 percent from this fiscal year’s initial budget. Looking toward the implementation of Society 5.0, or “super-smart society,” there will be ongoing demonstration testing of autonomous...
Renault–Nissan Alliance to Co-Develop Electric Cars With Dongfeng
The Renault–Nissan Alliance announced on Aug. 29 that it will establish a new joint venture with China’s Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ltd. to co-develop electric vehicles (EVs) for the Chinese market. The new EV platform will be based on the Renault–Nissan Alliance’s Common Module Family (CMF)-A architecture and feature connected services. Production will take place...
NEDO Begins Demonstration Tests of Large Electric Buses in Malaysia
The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) announced on Aug. 28 that it has begun demonstration testing of a large electric bus system in Putrajaya, the federal administrative capital of Malaysia. The organization aims to boost the efficiency of Putrajaya’s urban transportation system using large electric buses that can drive 30 kilometers on...
TPR to Enter EV Capacitor Market With Power Storage Device
TPR Co. Ltd. (TYO:6463) has set about commercializing a power storage device for compact electric vehicles (EVs) by 2020. The device will connect several electric double-layer capacitor cells to form a unit, with the necessary performance to drive EV motors being provided through cell enhancement. As automotive electrification accelerates, the need for high-performance power storage...
Aisin Seiki President Fears EVs Could Wipe out Over Half of Annual Sales
The spread of electric vehicles (EVs) could threaten business for engines and transmissions, says Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd. (TYO:7259) President Yasumori Ihara. Speaking at an Aug. 24 press conference in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, Ihara said that the disappearance of these markets would see the company stand to lose 2 trillion yen ($18.33 billion) of its...
Marujun Emphasizes Electric Cars in New Long-Term Plan
Marujun Co. Ltd. has started formulating its long-term vision, which will span the next 10 years in company plans. Placing importance on responding to automotive electrification, the company has positioned its battery case business as a main pillar for the future. Orders in Marujun’s battery case business have been favorable, and the long-term plan aims...
Automotive and Energy Companies Look Into Business Partnerships – Part 3
By Tsutomu Sasaki, senior manager for research and consulting, The Japan Research Institute Ltd. The Road Ahead in a Changing Market Landscape As electric vehicles (EVs) gain in popularity, renewable energy and storage battery prices will likely fall due to improved technology and mass production. As a result, the trend toward electrification will most likely...
Nissan Agrees to Transfer Electric Battery Business to China’s GSR Capital
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (TYO:7201) announced on August 8 that it will sell its electric battery operations and production facilities to GSR Capital, a Chinese private investment fund. Nissan and GSR entered into the share transfer agreement that same day, and will complete the relevant proceedings by the end of December. The agreement covers Nissan’s...
Mitsubishi Fuso Begins Production of Electric Truck in Portugal
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. began production of its electric-powered light truck, the eCanter, on Aug. 1 at Mitsubishi Fuso Truck Europe SA’s plant in Tramagal, Portugal. The small electric truck will be exported to North America and Europe. For Japan, production began in July at Mitsubishi Fuso’s Kawasaki factory. Twenty-five vehicles are scheduled...
Nissan Makes Full-Fledged Effort to Increase EV Sales in China
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (TYO:7201) has announced a full-fledged effort to increase its sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in China, developing new SUV and sedan EVs exclusively for the Chinese market. In addition to introducing these new EV models as Nissan brands in 2018, the company will also add local Chinese brand, Venucia, to its...
Aichi Steel Adds New Press Line for Forging Electric Car Parts
Aichi Steel Corp. (TYO:5482) announced on July 12 that the company has constructed a servo press line at its research and development plant in Tokai, Aichi Prefecture, to develop new forged components for electric vehicles (EVs). Vehicle electrification is advancing as environmental regulations become more stringent worldwide. The company expects that demand for drive system...
Mitsubishi Fuso to Launch EV in Each Truck Class by 2020
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. aims to introduce an electric-powered truck in all of the company’s truck classes by 2020. The components to make these electric trucks are being developed primarily by Mitsubishi Fuso, and the company will offer the trucks globally through parent company Daimler AG. Domestic production began in July for Mitsubishi...
EV Maker GLM to Form Capital Alliance With Hong Kong’s O Luxe
Electric vehicle (EV) venture GLM Co. Ltd., Kyoto, announced on July 10 that it will form a capital alliance with Hong Kong-based investment and holding company O Luxe Holdings Ltd. GLM is planning to begin mass production of its all-new GLM G4 electric car in 2019 and is raising the necessary funds from O Luxe...
Volvo to Go Electric on All Car Models Starting in 2019
Swedish automaker Volvo Car Corp. recently announced that, starting in 2019, the company will no longer launch gas-only vehicles. The company’s entire lineup will be comprised of electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) and hybrid vehicles (HVs). No new exclusively internal-combustion vehicles with gasoline or diesel engines will be released. At the present time,...
Nissan Aims for $6B Value From Three-Company Alliance
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (TYO:7201) Chairman Carlos Ghosn announced at the company’s June 27 ordinary general meeting of shareholders that, with the addition of Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (TYO:7211) to the Alliance between Nissan and Renault SA, the three companies will share 70 percent of their platforms by 2020. Ghosn said that the Alliance will allow...
Maxell Creates New Possibilities With Internal Observation of Lithium-Ion Batteries in Action
Hitachi Maxell Ltd., commonly known as Maxell, recently announced that it has broken new ground in the observation of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). The company has succeeded in simultaneously measuring lithium concentration distribution in the positive and negative electrodes of charging and discharging electrolytic solution LiBs in a single field of view in real time. This...
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...
