https://www.scmp.com/rss/35365/feed Nissan was founded just before World War I, and is one of the largest carmakers in the world. In 1999, it entered an alliance with French carmaker Renault, which owns 43.4 per cent of Nissan, which owns 15 per cent of Renault. Its models include the high-performance GTR. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Daniel Ren,Themis Qi Daniel Ren,Themis Qi Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers at the Beijing auto show are shifting their focus to overseas markets, banking on opportunities from the Middle East crisis to boost profitability amid weak sales at home. “Going global has become a top choice for Chinese EV builders as they struggle to break even,” said Phate Zhang, founder of Shanghai-based data provider CnEVPost. “The Middle East crisis is acting as a strong catalyst to bolster their overseas deliveries.” Nearly all major EV assemblers... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351357/chinese-ev-makers-target-global-expansion-auto-china-amid-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351357/chinese-ev-makers-target-global-expansion-auto-china-amid-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:57:59 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Hyundai Motor has spearheaded a comeback among foreign marques vying for a slice of the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) market, launching a new brand built around local technologies and partnerships. The South Korean carmaker, which reversed a six-year sales decline in 2025, said it would soon introduce production models under the Ioniq brand tailored for Chinese consumers, as it steps up its push into the world’s largest automotive market. “The newly launched Ioniq brand in China evolves beyond a... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349776/hyundai-spearheads-foreign-ev-comeback-push-china-ioniq-brand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349776/hyundai-spearheads-foreign-ev-comeback-push-china-ioniq-brand?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 05:20:54 +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 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese carmakers, saddled with excess capacity and weak demand at home, are taking a new approach to global expansion: utilising idled facilities abandoned by international marques. By adopting an asset-light strategy, companies from Geely Auto to Great Wall Motor (GWM) can assemble their cars overseas at lower costs, broadening their influence on the global automotive sector, according to analysts. “Mindful of profitability as well as geopolitical and operating risks, Chinese carmakers are... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346472/carpool-chinese-giants-use-idled-foreign-plants-fuel-global-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346472/carpool-chinese-giants-use-idled-foreign-plants-fuel-global-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters Two of China’s leading carmakers, BYD and ⁠Geely, are among the finalists vying to purchase a Nissan–Mercedes-Benz plant in Mexico, according to a ⁠person familiar with the matter, as China seeks a manufacturing foothold in a country where US tariffs are fuelling factory closures and lay-offs. The finalists emerged from nine companies expressing interest in acquiring the factory, including at least two other major Chinese manufacturers: Chery and Great Wall Motor, according to two sources... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3343369/chinas-byd-and-geely-bid-nissan-mercedes-mexico-plant-dodge-trump-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3343369/chinas-byd-and-geely-bid-nissan-mercedes-mexico-plant-dodge-trump-tariffs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:30:30 +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 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 Frank Chen,Alice Li,Mandy Zuo Frank Chen,Alice Li,Mandy Zuo After China and the US reached an agreement on soybeans, Beijing has signalled its intent to seek favourable terms, with the scale of future imports dependent on the competitiveness of American crops, a commerce official said. “With the adjusted tariffs, China will encourage companies to import agricultural products from the US in line with market principles,” said Chen Chao, director general of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce, in a speech at the China... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331823/china-signals-soybean-appetite-spark-many-deals-us-farmers-if-prices-are-right?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331823/china-signals-soybean-appetite-spark-many-deals-us-farmers-if-prices-are-right?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:00:15 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Guangdong province – China’s manufacturing powerhouse – has unveiled comprehensive plans to integrate artificial intelligence into industrial operations and attract foreign investment, underscoring its commitment to technological upgrading and international cooperation. The provincial government held two press conferences on Wednesday to outline a new three-year action plan – launched a day earlier – that aims to harness AI in manufacturing, as well as to preview an coming investment event... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329922/guangdong-pushes-ai-powered-growth-despite-looming-shadow-nexperia-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3329922/guangdong-pushes-ai-powered-growth-despite-looming-shadow-nexperia-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:00:08 +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 Coco Feng Coco Feng Hello, a Chinese bike-sharing and ride-hailing firm backed by fintech giant Ant Group, unveiled its first driverless taxi on Thursday, intensifying competition with local rivals Baidu, WeRide and Pony.ai. The vehicle, Hello Robot1, is based on the Venucia VX6 SUV produced by a joint venture between China’s Dongfeng Motor and Japan’s Nissan, according to Yu Qiankun, co-founder of Hello’s self-driving unit, who presented the car at an event in Shanghai. Equipped with 14 high-resolution cameras,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325186/ant-group-backed-hello-launches-robotaxi-challenge-baidu-weride-ponyai-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3325186/ant-group-backed-hello-launches-robotaxi-challenge-baidu-weride-ponyai-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:00:22 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Dongfeng Motor, a major state-owned Chinese carmaker, plans to privatise its Hong Kong-traded unit and list its electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary as part of a transition towards electrification. The company – based in Wuhan, the capital of central Hubei province – is offering shareholders HK$6.68 (US$0.85) per share, valuing the listed unit at HK$55.1 billion, according to a filing with the Hong Kong stock exchange late on Friday. The offer represents an 11.9 per cent premium over the closing... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3322915/dongfeng-motor-list-voyah-ev-brand-hong-kong-take-parent-company-private?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3322915/dongfeng-motor-list-voyah-ev-brand-hong-kong-take-parent-company-private?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 08:35:07 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Japanese companies are once again sending fresh recruits to boot camps run by the military in a bid to instil teamwork, discipline and basic social skills that many believe were lost during the pandemic-era shift to online learning and remote work. The “enlistment experience” programmes, operated by Japan’s Self-Defence Forces (SDF), simulate aspects of military life – from dawn roll-calls and mess hall etiquette to marching drills and group exercises – and are seeing a revival after plummeting... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3319185/japans-corporate-boot-camps-enlist-military-discipline-drill-soft-skills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3319185/japans-corporate-boot-camps-enlist-military-discipline-drill-soft-skills?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 01:37:30 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Nissan is closing its flagship factory in Oppama, Japan, to cut costs and moving all its production there to another plant in southwestern Japan. Vehicle production at the Oppama plant in Kanagawa Prefecture south of Tokyo, will end at the end of the 2027 fiscal year, in March 2028, the Japanese carmaker said on Tuesday. After that, all models that had been made or scheduled for production at Oppama will be made at Nissan Motor Kyushu, in Fukuoka Prefecture. The Oppama plant has been a prized... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3318323/japanese-carmaker-nissan-shut-its-iconic-oppama-plant-major-restructuring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3318323/japanese-carmaker-nissan-shut-its-iconic-oppama-plant-major-restructuring?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:24:57 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg The head of one of Japan’s largest investment banks used the Tokyo Pride parade to strike a rare public stance on pushing ahead with diversity initiatives, as US President Donald Trump seeks to abolish such policies. Few Japanese corporate executives have taken a clear position on US efforts to roll back the diversity, equity and inclusion policies that had become common at global corporations, though many firms appear to have quietly maintained their initiatives. “Even if the US has adopted an... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3313534/top-banker-tells-japan-keep-diversity-policies-trumps-crackdown-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3313534/top-banker-tells-japan-keep-diversity-policies-trumps-crackdown-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Jun 2025 07:21:28 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg In the rural suburbs of Hiroshima, a Japanese start-up is trying to kick start the nation’s electric vehicle (EV) market with the smallest, cheapest car it can possibly make. KG Motors has developed a battery-powered one-seater that more resembles a futuristic golf cart than it does a modern EV, much less a traditional car. And yet well over half of the 3,300 units it plans to deliver by March 2027 have already been pre-sold to customers. Incidentally, that puts it on track to sell more EVs in... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3312269/can-us7000-single-seat-ev-spark-revolution-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3312269/can-us7000-single-seat-ev-spark-revolution-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 May 2025 06:58:25 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba accepted the resignation of his agriculture minister on Wednesday over a tone-deaf remark about rice donations – a political blunder that analysts say could further erode public trust in his leadership ahead of two make-or-break elections this summer. Taku Eto stepped down less than 24 hours after Ishiba insisted he would not dismiss him, following public outcry over comments in which the minister boasted that he never needed to buy rice because supporters... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3311227/can-japans-ishiba-weather-political-storm-after-rice-remark-buries-farm-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3311227/can-japans-ishiba-weather-political-storm-after-rice-remark-buries-farm-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 May 2025 09:20:50 +0000 Reuters Reuters Taiwan’s Foxconn, the world’s largest contract electronics maker, posted a 91 per cent leap in first-quarter profit and beat the market forecast on strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) servers, but gave a more conservative full-year outlook. Net profit for January-March for Apple’s top iPhone assembler and Nvidia’s server maker came in at T$42.12 billion (US$1.39 billion), versus the T$37.8 billion average of 13 analyst estimates compiled by LSEG. Foxconn, formally Hon Hai Precision... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3310291/foxconn-profit-surges-amid-ai-boom-trade-tensions-cloud-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3310291/foxconn-profit-surges-amid-ai-boom-trade-tensions-cloud-outlook?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 May 2025 08:06:23 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg Nissan has vowed to close seven factories and slash 20,000 jobs after posting its biggest annual loss since French carmaker Renault rescued it from near bankruptcy a quarter century ago. The Japanese carmaker decided against issuing an operating profit forecast for the financial year ending March 2026, and reported a net loss of 670.9 billion yen (US$4.5 billion) for the year that ended in March. “The reality is clear,” Nissan’s newly minted Chief Executive Officer Ivan Espinosa said on Tuesday... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3310260/japans-nissan-axe-20000-jobs-shut-factories-after-huge-loss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3310260/japans-nissan-axe-20000-jobs-shut-factories-after-huge-loss?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 May 2025 04:20:48 +0000 Gloria Fung Gloria Fung The Curry name has been a part of NBA history for nearly 40 years. Dell Curry had an illustrious career, playing for five teams over 16 seasons, while Stephen Curry has become a legend in his own right, holding the current record for most three-pointers ever scored in an NBA career. But who is Steph’s lesser-known little brother, Seth Curry? In recent years, nepotism within the NBA has been a hot topic. Between two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother Thanasis getting a contract with his... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3310161/meet-golden-state-warriors-point-guard-stephen-currys-brother-seth-charlotte-hornets-guard-married?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3310161/meet-golden-state-warriors-point-guard-stephen-currys-brother-seth-charlotte-hornets-guard-married?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 May 2025 21:00:10 +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 Frank Chen,Alice Li Frank Chen,Alice Li They represent those bucking the trend – bold multinationals braving mounting complexities and vowing to ramp up investments in China, even as the prevailing sentiment among foreign firms is to wait and see amid a worrisome trade environment. On Tuesday, Toyota, the world’s largest carmaker, made inroads into Shanghai with the signing of a 14.6 billion yuan (US$2 billion) deal for a plant to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs) under its Lexus marque in the Chinese megacity. This is one of the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3307800/multinationals-vow-big-china-investments-defying-tariffs-and-bucking-wait-and-see-trend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3307800/multinationals-vow-big-china-investments-defying-tariffs-and-bucking-wait-and-see-trend?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Apr 2025 22:00:15 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor is looking to expand in the global market with made-in-China electric vehicles (EVs) featuring smart driving technologies, highlighting its commitment to the Chinese market, a company executive said on Wednesday. “The Chinese market is leading a lot of technology investment, so of course we want to stay and compete,” Stephen Ma, chairperson of Nissan’s management committee for China, said during an interview at the Shanghai Auto Show on Wednesday. China and the US... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3307634/japans-nissan-looks-export-china-made-electric-cars-global-expansion-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3307634/japans-nissan-looks-export-china-made-electric-cars-global-expansion-push?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Apr 2025 13:00:14 +0000 While US President Donald Trump has announced a 90-day pause on his proposed tariff hikes, exporters are still dealing with the uncertainty of a 10 per cent universal levy returning if trade deals aren’t struck as his administration envisages. Meantime, the list of companies from Europe to Asia halting shipments of everything from cars to toys is growing, meaning consumers in the US might find there aren’t even the goods to pay for as products pile up in ports. Here’s a look at what could go... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3306485/what-us-consumers-are-losing-trump-tariffs-christmas-toys-swiss-watches-japanese-whisky?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3306485/what-us-consumers-are-losing-trump-tariffs-christmas-toys-swiss-watches-japanese-whisky?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:00:09 +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 Dozens of major companies in Japan have pulled their adverts from Fuji Television amid allegations company officials tried to cover up a sex scandal involving one of the country’s most famous television hosts. The scandal centres on Masahiro Nakai, a former member of the popular male band SMAP and now a host at Fuji and other Japanese networks. Nakai has been linked by local media to an alleged sexual assault at a party reportedly arranged by one of Fuji TV’s staff. After the weekly magazine... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3295629/japans-masahiro-nakai-sex-scandal-prompts-dozens-companies-pull-fuji-tv-ads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3295629/japans-masahiro-nakai-sex-scandal-prompts-dozens-companies-pull-fuji-tv-ads?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jan 2025 07:51:07 +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 China has started transporting power lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles by domestic rail, paving the way for future exports through the China-Europe Railway Express. Tailored containers carrying power lithium-ion batteries from Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and BYD – two of the world’s largest power battery makers – started their first rail journey on Tuesday under a pilot programme, state news agency Xinhua reported. The plan is for the containers to be used by the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3287427/china-tests-hauling-dangerous-ev-battery-cargo-rail-among-moves-meet-spiking-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3287427/china-tests-hauling-dangerous-ev-battery-cargo-rail-among-moves-meet-spiking-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:05:10 +0000 Chinese autonomous driving start-up WeRide has postponed its US initial public offering (IPO), citing the need for additional time to finalise necessary documents. The company was looking to raise up to US$440 million in a New York listing originally scheduled for this week. WeRide said in a statement on Thursday that “the time required to update documents has taken longer than expected” and the company “is actively working on the necessary documents for the transaction”. The delay, first... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3275472/robotaxi-start-weride-delays-us-ipo-days-chinese-approval-expires?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3275472/robotaxi-start-weride-delays-us-ipo-days-chinese-approval-expires?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Aug 2024 10:00:31 +0000 Chinese autonomous-driving company WeRide is seeking to raise as much as US$440 million in a US initial public offering (IPO) and concurrent private placement. WeRide – a Cayman Islands holding company whose operations are mainly conducted by Guangzhou Wenyuan Zhixing Technology and its subsidiaries in mainland China – is offering 6.45 million American depositary shares (ADS) at US$15.50 to US$18.50 each, according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Friday, confirming an... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3273991/chinese-autonomous-driving-firm-weride-seeks-us440-million-us-ipo-placement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3273991/chinese-autonomous-driving-firm-weride-seeks-us440-million-us-ipo-placement?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Aug 2024 03:26:48 +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 Italy’s antitrust authority fined a local automobile company €6 million (US$6.4 million) after determining it had illegally labelled vehicles from Chinese manufacturers including Chery Automobile Co as Italian-made. DR Automobiles has been promoting cars from Chery, BAIC Motor Corp and Anhui Jianghua Automobile Group, or JAC Motors, as Italian-made since at least December 2021, the agency said on its website. The China-made cars have been marketed under the DR and EVO brands after “final... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3267428/italy-issues-us64-million-fine-over-chinese-cars-badged-italian?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3267428/italy-issues-us64-million-fine-over-chinese-cars-badged-italian?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:41:07 +0000 Not content with unseating Tesla as the world’s top-selling electric-vehicle maker, BYD has now set its sights on stealing customers from the likes of Toyota Motor and Volkswagen in one of the most aggressive rounds of discounting seen in China’s bruising price war. The Shenzhen-based carmaker is currently discounting almost every electric and hybrid car model it sells, as part of a marketing campaign declaring “electricity is cheaper than oil”. Data from Chinese car portal 16888.com analysed by... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3256580/china-ev-war-byd-takes-laggards-toyota-vw-steep-price-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3256580/china-ev-war-byd-takes-laggards-toyota-vw-steep-price-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Mar 2024 04:32:31 +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 Nissan Motor said on Sunday it would sell China-developed electric vehicles (EVs) globally as it struck a deal with the country’s top university to leverage local resources to accelerate research and development on electrification. The Japanese carmaker is considering exporting the line-up of existing internal combustion engine vehicles and planned pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars manufactured and developed in China to overseas markets, Masashi Matsuyama, vice-president of Nissan Motor and... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3245361/nissan-export-china-developed-evs-global-markets-plans-rd-tie-tsinghua-university?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3245361/nissan-export-china-developed-evs-global-markets-plans-rd-tie-tsinghua-university?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Dec 2023 05:59:28 +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 Japan’s move to bar most used-car sales to Russia slammed the brakes on a trade nearing US$2 billion annually that had boomed in the shadow of sanctions over Ukraine elsewhere, according to trade data and market participants. In early August, Japan’s government banned exports of all but subcompact cars to Russia, cutting off a lucrative trading backchannel in used Toyotas, Hondas and Nissans for a network of brokers and smaller ports, especially Fushiki, an export hub on the Sea of Japan. While... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3236477/japan-slams-brakes-sending-used-cars-russia-axing-lucrative-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3236477/japan-slams-brakes-sending-used-cars-russia-axing-lucrative-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Oct 2023 02:40:11 +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 In the automotive sector, the race to electrification is shifting into high gear. All-electric carmakers like Tesla and BYD are smashing sales records, leaving traditional carmakers struggling to keep up. But electrification is just one aspect of auto sector emissions reduction. Of critical importance, but often overlooked, is the urgent need for carmakers to address carbon emissions in their supply chains, particularly from the use of steel. The auto industry’s carbon emissions from steel are... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3232047/carmakers-must-steel-themselves-address-carbon-emissions-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3232047/carmakers-must-steel-themselves-address-carbon-emissions-supply-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Aug 2023 22:15:18 +0000 Japanese carmaker Nissan Motors plans to roll out new electric vehicle models into the Hong Kong market and to expand its presence by targeting the city’s tech-savvy drivers with new technologies and battery technologies. The move follows recent setbacks for Japan’s top carmakers in the mainland market where their first half sales plunged by a fifth in a market with fast-changing customer demands. “It is an interesting market where we are able to try new technologies and the people are willing... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3229687/nissan-motors-roll-out-new-ev-models-hong-kong-sales-slow-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3229687/nissan-motors-roll-out-new-ev-models-hong-kong-sales-slow-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Aug 2023 23:00:11 +0000 Nissan Motor has finalised plans to invest in Renault’s electric-vehicle venture Ampere, capping months of negotiations to rebalance the troubled automotive alliance. Nissan will invest as much as €600 million (US$663 million) in the business, the companies said in a statement on Wednesday. Separately, the pair formalised a deal for Renault to reduce its ownership of Nissan to 15 per cent by placing the rest of its current 43 per cent shareholding in a French trust. “These agreements provide us... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3228961/nissan-invest-us663-million-renault-ev-unit-ampere-franco-japanese-alliance-rejigged?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3228961/nissan-invest-us663-million-renault-ev-unit-ampere-franco-japanese-alliance-rejigged?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Jul 2023 06:29:30 +0000 From sci-fi style concept cars featuring holograms and neon lights, to more run-of-the-mill hatchbacks, some of the world’s biggest automakers showed off their latest models at the bustling auto show in Shanghai. Once again, battery power took center stage, with makers jostling to show off their electrification credentials. Here’s a selection of the best cars the show has to offer: BYD Yangwang U9 BYD’s two-door sports supercar can go from zero to 60 miles an hour (96 kilometres per hour) in... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3217550/shanghai-auto-show-byds-crab-walking-car-nissans-holographic-wheels-and-all-glass-roof-its-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3217550/shanghai-auto-show-byds-crab-walking-car-nissans-holographic-wheels-and-all-glass-roof-its-all?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Apr 2023 05:39:31 +0000