Japan's top automaker believes technological breakthroughs, such as hydrogen engines, can give internal combustion a new lease on life — saving jobs as well as the environment.

Newly appointed COO Sinead Kaiya is charged with making growth and sustainability a reality at Toyota Motor's autonomous-driving technology unit.

The service will offer new safety features, refreshed interiors, and software upgrades to car computer systems.

The office expansion began in 2021 following the company's announcements of its advanced driver-assistance system lidar series production award with GM.

The company that pioneered the Prius hybrid has drawn criticism for perceived foot-dragging on EVs. But Akio Toyoda wants it known that his company is pursuing carbon neutrality.

The 50-50 company will be established this year with the goal of starting EV sales and providing mobility services in 2025. The deal is still subject to regulatory approval.

Japan’s Woven City, the digitally-driven town of tomorrow that Toyota is building on the foothills of Mount Fuji, could be a future air hub for the country’s flying cars.

Mercedes-Benz will source 70 percent of its energy needs for production through renewable energy by 2030 by rolling out solar and wind power projects at its plants and through power purchase agreements.

Experts warn that failure to obtain adequate supplies of lithium, nickel, manganese or cobalt could slow the shift to electric vehicles.

Nissan's move is part of a push to equip nearly every new model with lidar safety technology by the end of the decade. It lets vehicles conduct high-speed emergency maneuvers on the highway without a hand on the wheel or foot on the brake.

Automotive suppliers are deploying with health technology aimed at detecting COVID-19, alerting someone of signs of a heart attack and purifying the air in their vehicle.

Contract talks continue for union workers at ports that are crucial hubs for the U.S. auto industry.

As the electric vehicle market expands, so is a new North American battery-recycling industry. Its aim: to clean up the battery business and help EVs live up to their promise of reducing global carbon emissions.

Companies are drawing the attention of customers and investors as they race to make their systems better and cheaper.

Akio Toyoda is speaking out against the industry's rush to push technological boundaries: "I don't think it's at all realistic yet that self-driving cars can travel normally on ordinary roads."