Hans Greimel Asia Editor, based in Tokyo, overseeing coverage from Japan, China and South Korea for Automotive News [email protected] 81-3-3828-9060 See All Staff Page Recent Stories Japan's automakers see positive signs ahead Japan's automakers absorbed the challenges of the fiscal year just ended. Despite worries over rising costs, they see a brighter year ahead. Nissan is ready to start growing again after first profit in two years Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta says the carmaker is ready to turbocharge its turnaround, possibly build a new U.S. plant and adopt a build-to-order mindset for more efficient retail sales. Rip-roaring Toyota pauses to worry about costs Toyota smashed earnings records across the board in the latest fiscal year, but now it's tapping the brakes as market uncertainty and inflation cast new shadows. Nissan eyes third U.S. plant, possibly for EVs A new factory would come after Nissan completes its transition from a discount, volume player to a quality, value brand, COO Ashwani Gupta said. Nissan is back in the black but still only at 'starting line' Nissan has returned to full-year profit for the first time in three years and the advance brings Nissan closer to achieving CEO Makoto Uchida’s goal of delivering a sustainable 5 percent operating profit margin. Subaru adding first EV production line to catch up with rivals Subaru's outlay shows the all-wheel drive specialist is finally turning its focus to full-electric vehicles after introducing its first serious contender, the Solterra crossover, only this year. Toyota breaks profit records as it shrugs off pandemic, semiconductor shortage Toyota recorded all-time highs for revenue, operating profit and net income as global group sales advanced 7.6 percent to 8.23 million vehicles in its latest fiscal year. Mitsubishi bounces back to profitability Rebounding Mitsubishi Motors Corp. stepped up its recovery in the latest quarter, bouncing back to profitability on better sales and beneficial foreign exchange rates. One of Toyoda's ‘Seven Samurai' is recreating Aisin Toyota Group megasupplier Aisin is grappling with how and when to shift to a new lineup of electrified products. Profits made from today's internal-combustion vehicles will lead to investment in EV products. Nissan's Datsun comeback comes to a close The last plant churning out Datsun vehicles has ceased production, less than a decade after former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn resurrected the brand with grand visions of mass volume. Nissan delays Z car launch as Japan output plunges 44% in March The Nissan Z car, a 400-hp, twin-turbo symbol of the struggling Japanese automaker's revival, is the latest product launch to be derailed by global supply chain woes. Why Nissan is joining the lidar bandwagon 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. Nissan ends Datsun budget brand Reviving Datsun was a key strategy of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn. He wanted to expand into emerging markets, but sales never reached optimistic forecasts. Lexus is ready to sell a million EVs — but how to build them? Entering the EV era will require Lexus to not only engineer all-electric cars but reengineer the production process that builds them. Honda: 800,000 EVs built in North America by 2030 EV production should account for about 40 to 50 percent of Honda's total output in North America in 2030, or around 800,000 battery-electric vehicles. Load More
Hans Greimel Asia Editor, based in Tokyo, overseeing coverage from Japan, China and South Korea for Automotive News [email protected] 81-3-3828-9060 See All Staff Page