Japan eyes reform of auto market as trade talks loom 12:04 pm U.S. ET | June 18, 2013  Japan sees an urgency in overhauling policies that favor domestic industries such as automakers as it seeks to revive the economy and join talks on a Pacific-region trade deal, the government's ambassador to the United States said.... Read More »
HANS GREIMEL Honda's little radiation-proof robot does nuke duty 8:58 am U.S. ET | June 17, 2013  In the highly radioactive crucible of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, there are simply some areas too hot and hazardous for humans to venture for cleanup. Now, Honda is parlaying its expertise in robotics into a helping hand.... Read More »
HANS GREIMEL Economic revival boosts foreign car sales in Japan 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 17, 2013  For months, U.S. and European automakers have fretted about the potential boost to Japanese brands' sales in their markets from the tumbling yen, which makes Japanese exports more profitable and increases their allure in overseas markets. But here's the flip side those automakers don't complain about: Import sales in Japan are soaring.... Read More »
LINDSAY CHAPPELL More dealership employees = more sales? 12:01 am U.S. ET | June 12, 2013  Japanese-brand auto dealerships added 11,894 employees in the United States last year, according to a recent report from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association in Washington.... Read More »
HANS GREIMEL Resurgent economy bolsters foreign car sales in Japan 10:36 am U.S. ET | June 7, 2013  For months, American and European automakers have been fretting about the impact of the tumbling yen on local sales. But here's the flip side they don't complain about: Import sales in Japan are soaring.... Read More »
Mitsubishi recalls EV and Outlander plug-in hybridJune 5, 2013 06:01 CET  Mitsubishi has formally recalled its i-MiEV electric vehicle in Japan. Output of the EV minicar -- which is also sold by Peugeot and Citroen in Europe -- has been halted since a manufacturing glitch caused one of their lithium ion battery packs to melt and another to catch fire in March.... Read More »
Mitsubishi recalls EV and Outlander plug-in hybrid in Japan 10:31 am U.S. ET | June 4, 2013  Mitsubishi Motors has formally recalled its i-MiEV electric vehicle in Japan, possibly paving the way for a similar callback in the United States. Sales and production of the pint-sized EV, along with the Outlander plug-in hybrid crossover sold only in Japan, have been halted since a manufacturing glitch caused one of their lithium ion battery packs to melt and another to catch fire in March.... Read More »
HANS GREIMEL Driver's license in Japan comes with lots of ritual 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 31, 2013  Japan's automakers complain about red tape that discourages young people here from buying cars. Add to all that the trials and travails of simply getting a driver's license and then keeping it.... Read More »
U.S. lawsuit accuses vehicle shipping companies of price fixing 11:09 am U.S. ET | May 30, 2013  Several major import-vehicle shippers, which together are said to command 70 percent of the global car-shipping market, face allegations of price fixing in a civil lawsuit filed federal court.... Read More »
HANS GREIMEL Driver's license in Japan comes with a large helping of numbing ritual 12:09 pm U.S. ET | May 29, 2013  Japan's automakers love to moan about all the red tape that discourages young people here from buying cars: high taxes, thickets of registration, the need to show proof of an overnight parking spot, onerous inspection regimes. Add to all that the trials and travails of simply getting a driver's license and then keeping it.... Read More »
Toyota to raise board compensation 28% as earnings increase 9:43 am U.S. ET | May 28, 2013  Toyota plans to increase compensation and bonuses for board members as it forecasts profit and sales will climb to the highest level in six years.... Read More »
Again, Tokyo show a no-go for Detroit 3 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 The Detroit 3 will sit out the Tokyo Motor Show, no-shows for the third straight time.... Read More »
Infiniti: Raise quality, sales will follow 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Infiniti President Johan de Nysschen, poached last summer from Audi, aims to push into new segments, restore profitability to Nissan's luxury marque and fix lackluster quality rankings. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has ordered de Nysschen to make the brand a top-tier premium player and boost global sales to 500,000 by 2016 from just 170,000 last year.... Read More »
CARS & CONCEPTS Honda to return to F1 racing 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013 Honda will return to Formula One as an engine supplier after exiting the racing series in 2008. The Japanese automaker will provide engines to its former F1 racing partner McLaren starting in 2015.... Read More »
Kogai takes reins of Mazda's comeback 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 20, 2013  Mazda Motor Corp.'s CEO designate, Masamichi Kogai, had a big hand in creating the more stable, profitable carmaker he inherits. But formidable challenges lie ahead.... Read More »
Toyota plans big hike in lithium ion battery output 12:22 pm U.S. ET | May 19, 2013  Toyota is planning to increase production of lithium ion batteries by six times, as the automaker prepares to eventually use them in its flagship Prius gasoline-electric hybrid cars, the Nikkei business daily reported on Sunday.... Read More »
Falling yen lifts outlook for Japanese 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013 For five years, a rising yen undermined Japanese automakers' profits. Now the currency's sudden weakening has delivered dramatic gains, especially in the January-March quarter.... Read More »
Toyota: N.A. to fuel biggest profits in 6 years 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013 Toyota Motor Corp. expects North America to be its fastest-growing market this fiscal year, driving the company to its highest profits since the global financial crisis.... Read More »
Mazda problem solver Kogai gets a new job: CEO 12:01 am U.S. ET | May 13, 2013  After Japan's devastating March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Mazda Motor Corp. CEO Takashi Yamanouchi needed someone to sort out and reinforce the carmaker's shattered supply chain and production system. He chose Masamichi Kogai, a manufacturing and purchasing specialist. Now, Kogai, 58, is getting a new assignment: Run the whole company.... Read More »
Airbag supplier Takata names first foreign presidentMay 10, 2013 19:25 CET  Japan's Takata, reeling from its role in a global airbag recall, said today it will replace its president with Swiss national Stefan Stocker, the first foreigner in the post.... Read More »
Airbag supplier Takata names first foreign president 1:25 pm U.S. ET | May 10, 2013  Japan's Takata, reeling from its role in a global airbag recall, said today it will replace its president with Swiss national Stefan Stocker, the first foreigner in the post.... Read More »
Nissan Q4 profit jumps 46%May 10, 2013 10:54 CET  Nissan today reported a 46.1 percent rise in its quarterly net profit to 110 billion yen ($1.11 billion).... Read More »
Infiniti names veteran powertrain engineer as head product plannerMay 10, 2013 06:01 CET  Infiniti has named powertrain specialist Toshihiro Hirai as global head of product planning as it tries to strengthen the marque's identity.... Read More »
In boon for Japan's automakers, yen tumbles over milestone 10:21 pm U.S. ET | May 9, 2013  Toyota's half-decade of fighting the yen is over, at least for now. The weakening yen breached 100 against the dollar in U.S. trading on Thursday, paving the way for Japanese automakers to emerge from an unprecedented stretch where the currency's appreciation roiled their ability to sell cars overseas at a profit.... Read More »
Infiniti names veteran powertrain engineer as head product planner 2:27 pm U.S. ET | May 9, 2013  Infiniti has named powertrain specialist Toshihiro Hirai as global head of product planning as it tries to strengthen the marque's identity.... Read More »
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