https://www.scmp.com/rss/167177/feed Honda Motor Company has been the world’s largest motorcycle maker since 1959, and Japan’s second largest Japanese carmaker. Honda was the first Japanese automobile manufacturer to release a dedicated luxury brand, Acura, in 1986, and also makes garden equipment, marine engines, personal watercraft and power generators, and is involved in aerospace. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China-made humanoid robots are beginning to gain traction in Japan, with models from Chinese firms Unitree and UBTech being deployed by Japan Airlines for baggage and cargo handling, highlighting the growing adoption of Chinese robotics technology as Japan grapples with acute labour shortages. Japan Airlines said last week that it would launch a two-year trial using humanoid robots for ground-handling operations at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport through a partnership with GMO AI & Robotics. Tasks in the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3352626/baggage-bots-chinese-humanoid-robots-roll-japans-airports-amid-labour-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3352626/baggage-bots-chinese-humanoid-robots-roll-japans-airports-amid-labour-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 11:30:05 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren A number of underperforming international car brands are likely to either exit the mainland Chinese market or scale down operations, as losses mount due to falling sales and shrinking market share. Carmakers delivering fewer than 1,000 units a month already faced a do-or-die situation in the world’s largest automotive market because the weak sales were not enough to cover their manufacturing and operating costs, according to analysts. Some carmakers are likely to follow Skoda, Volkswagen’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349083/more-foreign-marques-face-do-or-die-moment-chinese-buyers-shun-petrol-cars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349083/more-foreign-marques-face-do-or-die-moment-chinese-buyers-shun-petrol-cars?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Surging oil prices driven by the US-Israel war on Iran could accelerate the global adoption of electric vehicles – a sector that helped China overtake Japan to become the world’s largest seller of automobiles last year. “The closure of the Strait of Hormuz could be a game-changer for EVs,” said David Brown, director of energy transition research at Wood Mackenzie, in a report released on Friday. The “eye-watering” 50 per cent surge in global oil prices so far this month would further incentivise... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347583/why-iran-war-could-be-game-changer-evs-and-chinas-car-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347583/why-iran-war-could-be-game-changer-evs-and-chinas-car-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:00:16 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Aston Martin has predicted it is unlikely to finish Formula 1’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday without its drivers risking suffering permanent nerve damage. Adrian Newey, the F1 car design great who’s heading into his first race as Aston Martin’s team principal, said the team’s Honda power unit causes vibrations which could damage the hands of drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Neither is likely to be able to tolerate even half of the 58-lap race distance, he added. Aston... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3345568/aston-martin-says-car-risks-giving-drivers-nerve-damage-and-cant-finish-f1-season-opener?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3345568/aston-martin-says-car-risks-giving-drivers-nerve-damage-and-cant-finish-f1-season-opener?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:30:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The 2026 Formula One season has been flagged up as revolutionary because of the sweeping changes to chassis and power unit regulations, designed to create more overtaking opportunities and improve the sport’s eco-sustainability. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has already said the new cars are “not fun to drive” while Lando Norris, the man who took his crown last season, stirred the pot by saying they were fun before reversing at speed by remarking they were “certainly not the purest... https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3345465/wings-power-units-sons-drs-rough-guide-formula-1-rule-changes-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/formula-one-f1/article/3345465/wings-power-units-sons-drs-rough-guide-formula-1-rule-changes-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 23:00:17 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazil has ended a temporary tariff exemption that allowed electric and hybrid vehicles assembled using imported parts from China to enter the country at sharply reduced costs, closing a measure that fuelled months of confrontation between the government, Chinese carmaker BYD and Brazil’s established automotive industry. The exemption expired on January 31 and was not renewed, the South China Morning Post confirmed with multiple sources on Wednesday. Companies such as BYD and Great Wall Motor... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342454/brazil-scraps-ev-tariff-break-china-carmaker-byd-amid-pressure-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342454/brazil-scraps-ev-tariff-break-china-carmaker-byd-amid-pressure-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:32:30 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Major international marques, from Tesla to Volkswagen, continued to lose market share in mainland China, as consumers increasingly favoured new domestic electric vehicle (EV) models equipped with hi-tech features. But in 2026, foreign carmakers are expected to stage a comeback when they launch models with innovative technologies, which are expected to attract buyers in spite of sluggish consumer demand, according to industry officials and analysts. “Finally, foreign OEMs [original equipment... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340887/major-foreign-carmakers-set-stage-comeback-china-year-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340887/major-foreign-carmakers-set-stage-comeback-china-year-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 02:00:24 +0000 Kamala Thiagarajan Kamala Thiagarajan Looking back on 2025, we may be justified in calling it an annus horribilis for the world. There seems to be no end to the bad news: the war in Ukraine, the destruction of Gaza, the terror attack in Australia and the significant economic and political setbacks faced by many nations in Asia and across the world. All these paint a rather grim picture. However, there is more than a glimmer of hope on the horizon. International science cooperation has strengthened significantly this year, in spite... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3338041/year-conflict-global-science-cooperation-has-shown-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3338041/year-conflict-global-science-cooperation-has-shown-way?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 08:30:07 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen While humanoid robots from China and the US have captured the imagination of people for their skill at serving drinks, taking part in boxing matches and running marathons, and entertaining through dance moves on stage, their counterparts in Japan – the long-time leader of the robotics world – are mostly confined to factories. Japan’s early forays into humanoids date back to the 1960s, so what happened along the way? At the 26th International Robot Exhibition (IREX), a four-day, biennial industry... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3336327/stuck-factory-how-robotics-pioneer-japan-missed-ai-driven-humanoid-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3336327/stuck-factory-how-robotics-pioneer-japan-missed-ai-driven-humanoid-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 06:00:18 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Japan has often prided itself on its orderly, low-crime society, but cracks in that image are widening amid rising car thefts and home intrusions fuelled by export markets and public complacency. At a seminar in May on car theft held by the Aichi prefectural police in central Japan, a man in his fifties listened intently – he was twice targeted in the past. When he woke up one morning in 2011, his prized Toyota Land Cruiser had vanished. Then, one night in 2015, he found a bicycle blocking his... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3334660/japan-still-safe-rising-car-theft-burglary-figures-challenge-nations-orderly-image?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3334660/japan-still-safe-rising-car-theft-burglary-figures-challenge-nations-orderly-image?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 06:46:48 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The Nexperia factory in Dongguan, in the heart of southern China’s Pearl River Delta, has long been a poster child for successful globalisation. Since its launch in 2000, the plant, which covers an area the size of 10 football fields, has operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, non-stop. Following its most recent upgrade in 2018, its annual production capacity surged to 90 billion units, making it the largest assembly site in the Chinese-owned Dutch chipmaker’s global network. Yet, this... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3332814/us-china-tech-war-nexperia-saga-exposes-europes-loosening-grip-chip-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3332814/us-china-tech-war-nexperia-saga-exposes-europes-loosening-grip-chip-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China’s Ministry of Commerce on Saturday said it is looking to exempt some Nexperia orders from an export ban that it imposed after the Netherlands seized control of the Chinese-owned Dutch chipmaker. “We will comprehensively consider the actual situation of enterprises and grant exemptions to exports that meet the criteria,” a ministry representative said in a statement. According to the ministry, exemptions were being considered to stabilise the supply of Nexperia chips in global supply... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3331155/china-eyes-export-ban-exemption-some-nexperia-orders-amid-chip-supply-chain-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3331155/china-eyes-export-ban-exemption-some-nexperia-orders-amid-chip-supply-chain-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 04:31:07 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu A Japanese engineer at Honda has captured online fame for his striking, anime-inspired hairstyle that stands out in the car industry. Shotaro Odate is responsible for the advanced technology development department at Honda Motor, overseeing a team of around 100 staff members. He gained attention on social media for his strikingly wild hairstyle, reminiscent of iconic Japanese anime characters like Kakashi from Naruto and the Saiyans from Dragon Ball. Odate recently shared on a Japanese variety... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3327371/japan-engineer-goes-viral-anime-inspired-hairstyle-253-patents-170kg-bench-press?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3327371/japan-engineer-goes-viral-anime-inspired-hairstyle-253-patents-170kg-bench-press?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:00:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters In India’s Gujarat, eating meat or seafood is frowned upon, but in the state’s dusty industrial town of Vithalapur, hotels with names like Osaka Palace are churning out ramen and tempura – all to please the Japanese auto engineers and managers who now live in them. The transformation of Vithalapur’s farmlands, which lie 75km (46 miles) east of the state capital of Gandhinagar, owes much to increased foreign investment in Indian manufacturing – one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s key policy... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3327615/japanese-auto-engineers-drive-hotel-boom-tiny-indian-industrial-town?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3327615/japanese-auto-engineers-drive-hotel-boom-tiny-indian-industrial-town?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:45:49 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg More than two years after BYD began a high-profile foray into the Japanese market, the Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) maker is still struggling to win over drivers. The carmaker sold just 5,300 vehicles between January 2023 and June this year despite opening its 45th sales location in Japan, introducing a fourth EV model and touting plans to debut an electric kei car – a popular style of street-legal microcar – in late 2026. The moves have done little to ignite demand, and BYD is now turning to... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3327212/chinese-ev-maker-byd-brings-price-war-japan-bid-ignite-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3327212/chinese-ev-maker-byd-brings-price-war-japan-bid-ignite-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 06:37:12 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg As tariffs change trade patterns and roil global supply chains, corporate Japan is dealing with it the best way it knows how: by getting executives in the air. Home carriers Japan Airlines and ANA are reaping the biggest benefits, as increased premium demand for long-haul flights is boosting sales. Outbound business travel has picked up since US President Donald Trump set out to reshape the global order of commerce with a first salvo of tariffs announced back in April. The number of Japanese... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3326231/upside-trumps-tariffs-japan-airlines-profits-soar-business-travel-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3326231/upside-trumps-tariffs-japan-airlines-profits-soar-business-travel-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 02:30:46 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren AeroHT, an affiliate of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng, is preparing to enter European airspace as it edges closer to mass production of its flying cars following more than 5,000 orders. The start-up – controlled by Xpeng co-founder and CEO He Xiaopeng – will also conduct its first overseas test flight of its eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) vehicle in Dubai next month. “We are not sure about the recognition or acceptance of products by the customers yet, but I’m happy... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3325030/aeroht-gears-european-flying-car-debut-xpeng-affiliate-clocks-5000-orders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3325030/aeroht-gears-european-flying-car-debut-xpeng-affiliate-clocks-5000-orders?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 09:00:19 +0000 John Cremer John Cremer After school’s out, what then? Hong Kong schools often highlight the duty and commitment they have to helping students develop their talents and find their own path in life. The evidence of that can be found in the personal stories and notable achievements of these alumni who have gone on to succeed in a variety of fields. Sarah Fleischer, tech entrepreneur German Swiss International School (GSIS), class of 2010 Since attending the German International Stream at GSIS between 2000 and 2004,... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3324907/5-trailblazing-hong-kong-school-alumni-who-have-excelled-globally-entrepreneurs-olympic-medalists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3324907/5-trailblazing-hong-kong-school-alumni-who-have-excelled-globally-entrepreneurs-olympic-medalists?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 22:00:14 +0000 Andrew Frank,Jacob J. Puthenparambil Andrew Frank,Jacob J. Puthenparambil For all the continued dizzying headlines about global tariffs and strategic pauses, one thing remains true: the United States is deploying trade policy not just as economic leverage but as a tool of diplomacy and power. The August 1 deadline for countries, including several in Asia, to negotiate a trade deal or face steep tariffs is no exception. Markets throughout Asia – a region home to some of the most export-reliant economies in the world – are in the crosshairs of US President Donald... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3319227/why-asian-exporters-cant-afford-passive-approach-us-politics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3319227/why-asian-exporters-cant-afford-passive-approach-us-politics?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 12:30:07 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren A commercial-vehicle subsidiary of China’s state-owned carmaker GAC Group has its sights set on Europe, where it hopes its electric vans can lure corporate buyers away from petroleum-powered models built by the likes of Ford and Stellantis. Xiao Ning, CEO of Miraco Motor, told the Post that the company would launch its first model in Europe next year. It aims to grab 10 per cent of the European market, where more than 1.7 million vehicles of this type are sold each year for public transport,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3314398/chinese-carmaker-gacs-electric-van-unit-takes-aim-ford-and-stellantis-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3314398/chinese-carmaker-gacs-electric-van-unit-takes-aim-ford-and-stellantis-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 23:30:11 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Canada’s finance minister said the government kept 25 per cent retaliatory tariffs on tens of billions of dollars in US goods, disputing a report from a research firm that suggested it had paused the vast majority of those levies. Francois-Philippe Champagne said 70 per cent of the counter-tariffs implemented by Canada in March were still in place, according to a social media post on Saturday. The government “temporarily and publicly paused tariffs” on some items for health and public safety... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3310797/canada-has-nearly-zero-tariffs-us-goods-not-true-finance-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3310797/canada-has-nearly-zero-tariffs-us-goods-not-true-finance-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 May 2025 06:33:13 +0000 Robert Delaney Robert Delaney Many Americans who came of age in the 1980s will remember when Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys became the preferred family vehicles, quietly replacing US models. When quality, reliability and price were factored in, patriotism was the only remaining reason to keep an American-made car on the driveway. Two high-school friends and I each got well-worn hand-me-down cars when we started commuting to college. Dave got a Ford Fairmont estate car, which he called “the hearse”. Gary got a Buick Skylark... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3309961/how-trumps-erratic-tariffs-could-crash-his-us-car-production-goals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3309961/how-trumps-erratic-tariffs-could-crash-his-us-car-production-goals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 May 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Toyota Motor is bracing itself for a bumpy year, with the Japanese carmaker warning of a slump in profit as global manufacturers scramble to shield themselves from US President Donald Trump’s tariff turmoil. The company forecasts operating income of ¥3.8 trillion (US$26 billion) for the year ending March 31, 2026, it said Thursday, falling far short analyst expectations of ¥4.7 trillion. The figure compares with ¥4.8 trillion a year earlier and a record ¥5.35 trillion during the 2024 financial... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3309534/toyota-warns-possible-drop-2025-profit-trumps-chaotic-tariffs-threaten-carmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3309534/toyota-warns-possible-drop-2025-profit-trumps-chaotic-tariffs-threaten-carmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 May 2025 06:24:48 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Japan’s export-reliant car sector will be forced to consolidate to combat competition in an environment roiled by tariffs, according to a portfolio manager at the world’s largest publicly traded hedge fund firm. Man Group’s Stephen Harget said Japan’s carmakers are being pushed to combine their resources to counter Chinese auto firms’ aggressive business plans and rapid expansion. “When an industry is really under pressure, consolidation is often a very good answer to that,” Harget said in an... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3308468/japans-carmakers-face-pressure-consolidate-chinese-rivals-rise-and-tariffs-bite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3308468/japans-carmakers-face-pressure-consolidate-chinese-rivals-rise-and-tariffs-bite?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Apr 2025 03:56:23 +0000 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government will allow carmakers to import US-manufactured cars and trucks without tariffs, as long as the companies keep making vehicles in Canada. The move provides some relief from the trade war to companies including General Motors and Stellantis NV that have assembly plants in Ontario but still export large quantities of vehicles from the US into Canada. Last week, Carney put retaliatory tariffs of as much as 25 per cent on vehicles made in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3306670/canada-offers-carmakers-tariff-relief-honda-denies-plans-switch-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3306670/canada-offers-carmakers-tariff-relief-honda-denies-plans-switch-us?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:27:47 +0000 Yujie Xue Yujie Xue Foreign carmakers are likely to see their market share in China shrink further this year as the brutal price war is expected to get worse, according to analysts. Overseas companies’ share of the mainland’s electric vehicle (EV) market could drop to 32 to 33 per cent this year from about 35 per cent last year, Valentin Mory, an analyst at French investment bank Natixis, said during a webinar on Wednesday. “The price war is only getting fiercer and is unlikely to falter in 2025,” said Mory. “What... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3299340/double-down-or-get-out-options-foreign-carmakers-china-amid-shrinking-share?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3299340/double-down-or-get-out-options-foreign-carmakers-china-amid-shrinking-share?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2025 23:30:08 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Nissan Motor is pulling out of its deal with Honda Motor to combine both brands and regain global competitiveness, the Nikkei newspaper reported Wednesday. The pair had been negotiating the terms of a tie-up under which Honda would offer Nissan a lifeline by absorbing its struggling rival, and bring the two brands under a single holding company in 2026. The two competitors failed to reach a consensus after seven short but tumultuous weeks of talks, according to the newspaper, which cited people... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3297448/nissan-bow-out-historic-tie-honda-nikkei-reports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3297448/nissan-bow-out-historic-tie-honda-nikkei-reports?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Feb 2025 07:58:55 +0000 These five innovations from CES, the annual consumer electronics trade show held in Las Vegas, could shape the future of cars. 1. Sony’s Afeela 1 The premium-priced car first broke cover a while back, but at CES, Sony announced the final specs, cost and delivery details for its first electric vehicle. Starting at US$89,000 for the entry model, the car will be launched on the US market in mid-2026 and the rest of the world after that. 2. New Honda O-series models Honda announced two coming... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3294084/5-car-innovations-ces-show-las-vegas-could-change-future-driving?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3294084/5-car-innovations-ces-show-las-vegas-could-change-future-driving?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jan 2025 01:45:07 +0000 Japan’s biggest carmakers have pledged cooperation in tech-focused areas to survive in the rapidly evolving global industry, just as two of its largest car brands begin negotiating a deal that would effectively split the country’s industry in two. Over the next decade, manufacturers will need to pool resources and collaborate in areas like artificial intelligence and electric vehicles to catch up with the technologically sophisticated cars available in other markets, the Japan Automobile... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3293778/japans-carmakers-vow-closer-ties-regain-ground-lost-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3293778/japans-carmakers-vow-closer-ties-regain-ground-lost-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jan 2025 11:38:08 +0000 Japanese carmakers Honda and Nissan have announced plans to join forces, forming the world’s third-largest carmaker by sales, as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels, and aggressive competition from China forces legacy carmakers to rethink their business models. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3292016/japans-honda-and-nissan-merge-form-worlds-third-largest-carmaker-amid-ev-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3292016/japans-honda-and-nissan-merge-form-worlds-third-largest-carmaker-amid-ev-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Dec 2024 09:30:11 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Honda Motor and Nissan Motor are exploring a potential merger, according to people familiar with the matter, which would create a singular rival to Toyota Motor in Japan and better position the combined company to face competitive challenges around the world. Honda is considering several options including a merger, capital tie-up or the establishment of a holding company, Executive Vice-President Shinji Aoyama said on Wednesday following reports overnight of talks between the carmakers. Aoyama... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3291312/nissan-and-honda-consider-merger-take-larger-rival-toyota-tesla-and-ev-makers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3291312/nissan-and-honda-consider-merger-take-larger-rival-toyota-tesla-and-ev-makers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Dec 2024 05:04:37 +0000 If anything were due for a reset it would be the strained relations between China and Japan. Ties between the most powerful economies in Asia are rocky at best after a decade in which Tokyo drifted closer to Washington and built stronger ties with Taiwan. With the pending White House arrival of Donald Trump and his protectionist agenda, both Beijing and Tokyo will have motivation to improve relations. A first step to turning things around is to understand just what state they are in. The grim... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3290395/trump-good-reason-china-japan-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3290395/trump-good-reason-china-japan-thaw?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:50:11 +0000 Japan’s exporters face mounting uncertainty as they brace for potential new US tariffs under Donald Trump’s second term, with many working on tactics to limit the impact of the president-elect’s “America first” policy. Individual companies are playing their cards close to their chests, however, wary that their apprehensions could draw unwanted attention from the incoming administration – leaving business organisations to articulate the collective worries of Japanese firms. Masakazu Tokura,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3289750/toyota-daikin-japans-exporters-brace-tariff-pain-under-trump-20?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3289750/toyota-daikin-japans-exporters-brace-tariff-pain-under-trump-20?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Dec 2024 00:00:16 +0000 A start-up backed by Japanese carmaker Honda Motor has launched a shoe-mounted vibration device to help visually impaired people navigate their surroundings. Paired with a smartphone app, the device developed by Ashirase wraps around the foot and sends prompts by vibration. It contains a motion sensor to detect the user’s position and signal a turn at the appropriate time. The app, which also provides audio navigation, selects the most accessible route for people with impaired vision, allows... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3281320/new-shoe-vibrator-visually-impaired-helps-them-navigate-streets-safety?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3281320/new-shoe-vibrator-visually-impaired-helps-them-navigate-streets-safety?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Oct 2024 23:36:36 +0000 Reuters Reuters Japanese carmaker Honda Motor will halt vehicle production at its factory in Ayutthaya province in Thailand by 2025 as it plans to consolidate its output in the plant it runs in Prachinburi province, the company said on Tuesday. The move highlights the tougher conditions Japan’s second-biggest carmaker faces in the Southeast Asian nation as Chinese brands aggressively seek to gain market share in Thailand and consumer demand for electric vehicles (EVs) grows. Honda has seen combined production... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3269736/honda-end-production-one-its-thailand-auto-plants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3269736/honda-end-production-one-its-thailand-auto-plants?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jul 2024 06:54:47 +0000 Honda Motor on Monday became the fourth Japanese carmaker to be inspected by the transport ministry over improper tests for vehicle certifications, as several local newspapers warn of a “day of reckoning” for the sector. The widening scandal facing Japanese carmakers has been compared to the “dieselgate” emissions debacle that sideswiped German car giant Volkswagen in 2015. Takaki Nakanishi, CEO of the Tokyo-based Nakanishi Research Institute and a specialist in the auto sector, said the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3266083/fallout-japans-car-testing-scandal-spreads-ensnares-honda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3266083/fallout-japans-car-testing-scandal-spreads-ensnares-honda?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:16 +0000 Japan suspended the delivery and sales of six vehicles currently on the road, including three manufactured by Toyota, escalating a safety scandal that’s embroiled some of the world’s top carmakers. Toyota submitted faulty data during pedestrian-safety tests for three current models – the Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio and Yaris Cross – and used modified test vehicles during collision-safety tests for four past models, including the Crown, the transport ministry said on Monday. It was among five... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3265171/japans-car-safety-scandal-deepens-toyota-halts-sale-3-car-models-honda-mazda-yamaha-and-suzuki-also?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3265171/japans-car-safety-scandal-deepens-toyota-halts-sale-3-car-models-honda-mazda-yamaha-and-suzuki-also?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Jun 2024 09:00:17 +0000 International marques from Volkswagen to Honda, grappling with falling market share in China, are mounting a spirited fightback in the world’s largest automotive market, focusing on reliability and safety as they build cars for a new generations of local customers. Most of them plan to take a balanced approach – focusing on both conventional and battery-powered vehicles – to pursue sales growth in a market where electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly gaining ground. That strategy stands in stark... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3260444/international-marques-vw-honda-fight-regain-ground-lost-their-ev-rivals-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3260444/international-marques-vw-honda-fight-regain-ground-lost-their-ev-rivals-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Apr 2024 03:58:55 +0000 Aion, an electric vehicle (EV) unit of state-owned Chinese company GAC Group, plans to build its second Southeast Asia plant in Indonesia, upping its stake in the potentially vast market against domestic rivals like BYD. Guangzhou-based Aion will partner with Indomobil Group, a carmaker based in Jakarta, to localise its production and supply chain, offering Indonesian consumers a variety of intelligent new-energy vehicles, it said in a statement on Tuesday. The third bestselling EV brand in... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3257755/chinese-ev-maker-aion-plans-indonesia-plant-vying-against-rivals-byd-slice-promising-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3257755/chinese-ev-maker-aion-plans-indonesia-plant-vying-against-rivals-byd-slice-promising-southeast-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Apr 2024 12:36:28 +0000 The popularity of electric vehicles has surged in the last few years, from just 1.4 per cent of passenger car sales worldwide in 2017 to 14 per cent in 2022. But something changed in the second half of last year and demand is decelerating, with EVs reportedly piling up at car dealerships. Analysts expect the growth in EV sales to continue slowing this year. Bloomberg last month estimated that EV sales made up 18 per cent of the global total for the third quarter, and expects EV sales of 16.7... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3252621/ev-honeymoon-over-demand-decelerates-and-carmakers-struggle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3252621/ev-honeymoon-over-demand-decelerates-and-carmakers-struggle?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:30:10 +0000 Toyota is poised to keep its title as the world’s bestselling carmaker, beating Volkswagen for the fourth consecutive year after steady demand across North America and Europe helped sales and production reach new records in November. Global sales – including that of subsidiaries Hino Motors and Daihatsu – rose 12 per cent from a year earlier to 986,262 units, the most ever for the month of November, the company said on Wednesday. Worldwide production reached an all-time high of 1,067,446... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3246383/toyota-poised-keep-title-bestselling-carmaker-global-sales-hit-new-peaks-november?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3246383/toyota-poised-keep-title-bestselling-carmaker-global-sales-hit-new-peaks-november?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Dec 2023 08:09:26 +0000 The pressure is on domestic carmakers at this week’s Japan Mobility Show to prove they are serious not only about going carbon neutral, but also revolutionising the way people and goods move around. The event gets under way on Thursday as the rebranded successor to the Tokyo Motor Show, which began in 1954 and was last held in 2019, attracting 1.3 million attendees before going into hiatus during the pandemic. The goal this year is to get 1 million visitors, organisers said. Toyota Motor, Honda... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3238864/japan-mobility-show-toyota-nissan-honda-and-others-showcase-electric-cars-prove-credentials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3238864/japan-mobility-show-toyota-nissan-honda-and-others-showcase-electric-cars-prove-credentials?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Oct 2023 06:52:02 +0000 BYD introduced its Dolphin electric vehicle to Japan, betting that the compact hatch will help spearhead sales in a market that remains hesitant to embrace Chinese carmakers or EVs. The Dolphin will start from 3.63 million yen (US$24,560), BYD Auto Japan announced on Wednesday at a launch event in Tokyo. The base model has a 70 kilowatt hour battery offering 400km of range. The extended-range model is priced at 4 million yen, with the 150 kWh battery giving 476km per charge. While BYD is China’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3235136/byd-launches-dolphin-ev-japan-pry-open-market-dominated-local-heavyweights-toyota-honda-and-nissan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3235136/byd-launches-dolphin-ev-japan-pry-open-market-dominated-local-heavyweights-toyota-honda-and-nissan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Sep 2023 02:23:16 +0000 Japanese carmaker Honda Motor has exported its first shipment of Chinese-made electric and plug-in hybrid cars in the latest example of China’s rising manufacturing and design heft in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. Dongfeng Honda Automobile, a 50-50 joint venture between the Japanese company and its Chinese partner Dongfeng Motor Group, said on Tuesday that hundreds of CR-V hybrids and pure electric e:NS1s had begun their voyage from Shanghai to Zeebrugge, Belgium, on May 15. The cars are... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3221575/hondas-china-venture-ships-first-cars-abroad-countrys-auto-industry-pursues-status-worlds-largest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3221575/hondas-china-venture-ships-first-cars-abroad-countrys-auto-industry-pursues-status-worlds-largest?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 May 2023 12:14:30 +0000 Foreign car brands from Toyota to BMW, once the dominant players in China’s automotive industry, will suffer a significant loss of market share due to a slower transition to electric vehicles as domestic players, powered by rapid electrification, grab a bigger slice of the pie, according to a new Greenpeace report. Volkswagen (VW), currently the biggest carmaker by sales in the world’s largest vehicle market, will see its share drop by 3 to 7 percentage points by 2030, it said. VW sold 3.1... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3220148/foreign-car-brands-volkswagen-toyota-lose-share-china-worlds-largest-automotive-market-era-gas-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3220148/foreign-car-brands-volkswagen-toyota-lose-share-china-worlds-largest-automotive-market-era-gas-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 May 2023 03:57:26 +0000 Chinese carmakers, who have been embroiled in an intense price war that has hurt sales and profitability, will continue to offer discounts well into the second half amid weak demand, industry observers said. The price cuts, spearheaded by Tesla, will eventually lead to the closure of a large number of underachieving small players in the next five years because of the cutthroat competition in the world’s largest automotive market, they added. At the Shanghai Auto Show that started on Tuesday, the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3217490/shanghai-auto-show-honda-toyota-nissan-and-vw-unveil-evs-price-war-dominates-discussions-amid-bleak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3217490/shanghai-auto-show-honda-toyota-nissan-and-vw-unveil-evs-price-war-dominates-discussions-amid-bleak?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:00:12 +0000 Li Auto and Xpeng, two of mainland China’s top-three premium electric vehicle (EV) makers, reported growth in deliveries for a second consecutive month in March, bucking a downwards trend in the world’s largest automotive market. Beijing-headquartered Li Auto said on Saturday that it handed over 20,823 vehicles to Chinese customers last month, an increase of 25.3 per cent over February. March’s tally was Li Auto’s second-highest monthly sales figure since its founding in 2015, trailing only... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3215734/chinese-ev-makers-li-auto-and-xpeng-buck-downwards-trend-report-second-straight-month-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3215734/chinese-ev-makers-li-auto-and-xpeng-buck-downwards-trend-report-second-straight-month-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Apr 2023 08:30:14 +0000 “Why, why, why China?” Applause reverberated through the Sidney City Council chamber last spring as an agitated resident of the Ohio town posed the question during a public hearing on tax grants for a Shanghai-based company that plans to build a manufacturing plant on nearby farmland. “They have already moved bombs and stuff closer to us so they can hit us, so they are not our friends,” the man said, warning city officials to think about their grandchildren and great-grandchildren “when you have... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3201065/china-based-semcorp-bets-big-made-america-despite-some-ohio-locals-suspicions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3201065/china-based-semcorp-bets-big-made-america-despite-some-ohio-locals-suspicions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Nov 2022 15:58:10 +0000 Sony Group and Honda Motor will target the premium electric vehicle market through their joint mobility venture in 2025, as the two try to gain ground in a field already crowded by earlier entrants such as Tesla. Sony Honda Mobility will produce its EVs at Honda’s North American facilities, and sales and personal customisation will take place primarily online, its Chief Executive Officer Yasuhide Mizuno said in a news conference on Thursday. The company will deliver cars to customers in North... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3195805/sony-enters-teslas-backyard-make-premium-electric-cars-honda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3195805/sony-enters-teslas-backyard-make-premium-electric-cars-honda?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Oct 2022 06:11:35 +0000 Car owners will have the freedom to choose where to service their vehicles without fear of losing their warranties under a proposal by major distributors who were forced into a U-turn after an investigation by Hong Kong’s competition watchdog. The Competition Commission on Monday said it was inclined to accept the offer made by seven dealers of 17 car brands to amend the warranty terms and conditions, but noted that it would hear more views from interested parties by August 15. The proposal won... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3187344/car-dealers-propose-easing-warranty-restrictions-maintenance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3187344/car-dealers-propose-easing-warranty-restrictions-maintenance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Aug 2022 13:22:47 +0000