Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is pledging its support for Japanese corporate product design strategies. METI has set up an exploratory committee to consider industrial competitiveness and design and already started having discussions on the topic. The committee will submit an interim report by November and a final report next March, with...
METI
AICE to Work With Parts Manufacturers on Internal Combustion Research
The Research Association of Automotive Internal Combustion Engines (AICE), which conducts collaborative research with industry, government and academia primarily on internal combustion engines for Japanese automakers, will begin a new joint research project with parts manufacturers in fiscal 2019. In addition to handling the research needs of parts manufacturers, AICE will recruit companies to participate...
METI and MLIT Announce New Fuel Efficiency Labels
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) officially announced new fuel efficiency labels for passenger vehicles on July 4. Vehicles measured for fuel efficiency under the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC), an international standard for testing emissions and fuel efficiency, will now...
METI–China Vice-Ministers Discuss Rules for Automobile and Parts Sales
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) recently held vice ministerial-level talks with the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM). In discussions pertaining to the automobile sector, the officials exchanged views on rules for the sale of automobiles in China and after-sales parts. The vice ministerial talks are conducted once...
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...
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...
METI–Vietnam Talks to Target ASEAN Customs Duty Repeal
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) plans to begin trade partnership talks with Vietnam. A working group is being set up to arrange a framework for the bilateral talks, and will put together an action plan within this year. The Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP), of which Vietnam is a party, will bring...
METI, MLIT Get Ready to Hammer out New Fuel Economy Regulations
The Japanese government has announced that it will begin formulating new fuel economy regulations for passenger vehicles. The regulations will be put together over the span of a year by a joint council between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Discussions are scheduled...
METI Emphasizes Automotive as Key Area in New Industrial Structure Vision
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) released a draft on May 29 of its New Industrial Structure Vision, slated to serve as a set of guidelines for future economic and industrial policies. The guidelines detail necessary policies for tackling certain walls that need to be broken down, including regulations, customs and corporate isolationism....
Auto Industry B2B E-Commerce in Japan Reaches 42 Trillion Yen in 2016
Japan’s business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce market grew to 15.1 trillion yen in scale last year, according to findings by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The market’s growth represents an overall 9.9-percent increase from 2015, including an estimated 8.9-percent increase to 204.1 billion yen ($1.83 billion) for automotive B2C e-commerce – including that for...
METI Revises Japanese Industrial Standards for Spot Welding
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced on April 20 that it has revised the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) concerning inspection methods for spot-welded parts. Along with the addition of an extra base material category, the standards now cover ultrahigh-tensile steel plates and clarify the acceptable size of spot welds, something that had...
METI Drafts Guidelines for Virtual Simulation Practices in Automobile Development
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced on March 31 that it has drafted a policy to promote model-based development (MBD) for the virtual simulation of automobile development and performance assessments. METI released its guidelines for defining the intermodal interfaces used, as well as the vehicle performance simulation model that forms a common...
METI, MLIT Adopt Global WLTC Testing Procedures for Gas Mileage Labels
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) adopted a new policy on March 22 affecting gas mileage labels on passenger vehicles. The revamped labels will begin appearing on cars this summer. The Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC), a new set of international...
METI Holds Test Ride Event for Driving Safety Support Systems of Eight Japanese Automakers
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on March 22 held in-house test drives of vehicles featuring driving safety support systems (DSSS), something that the Japanese government is working to promulgate. Eight passenger car manufacturers provided vehicles equipped with automatic braking and other features, with METI parliamentary vice-ministers and members of the press trying...
METI–MLIT Commission Report Takes Aim at Autonomous Driving on General Roads
Japan’s autonomous driving business commission, initiated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), released a report on March 14 that details the promotion of autonomous driving technology on general roads. Categorizing autonomous driving technologies into private and business vehicle applications, the commission plans to...
MLIT Holds Symposium on Creating International Regulations for Self-Driving Vehicles
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) on Feb. 24 held a symposium in Tokyo on creating international regulations for self-driving vehicles. In addition to introducing activities in Japan and overseas related to establishing standards for self-driving vehicles, there was also a panel discussion. The symposium is part of the activities of the...
Trump Criticizes Trade With Japan as Unfair, METI Responds
U.S. President Trump has once again condemned U.S.–Japan trade relations, this time saying that trade between the two countries is unfair. But Minster of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko has refuted the notion. Speaking at a press conference held after a cabinet meeting on Jan. 24, Seko said that there are absolutely no tariffs...
Japan Establishes Research Institute for Connected-Car Society
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has established an advisory body to study the potential and risks of integrating motor vehicles with telecommunications networks. Holding its first meeting on Dec. 20, the group, whose Japanese title translates roughly as the “Research Institute for a Connected-Car Society,” will deliberate the modes in which private...
