Yuki Fukumoto

Sep 17, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Hirotake Kitagawa |Yuki Fukumoto

NAGOYA, Japan/TOKYO -- Japanese self-driving startup Tier IV is challenging the dominance of Tesla and Google in the field by releasing free software to lower the barrier to entry by less wealthy players. Isuzu Motors is adopting Tier IV's Autoware operating system for its plans to operate buses that run on Level 4 autonomy -- one notch below full autonomy, requiring human intervention in a few cases -- in fiscal 2027.

Jul 26, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Takayuki Yao |Yuki Fukumoto

NAGOYA, Japan -- Toyota Motor will build a battery plant for electric vehicles in Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, Nikkei has learned. The company aims to position Kyushu, which is home to many auto and semiconductor plants, as a central part of its EV supply chain and an export base to Asia. While Chinese manufacturers are turning heads with cheaper EVs in Asia, Toyota hopes to make its luxury Lexus brand a pillar of its EV strategy.

Feb 9, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Kei Miyata |Yuki Fukumoto

NAGOYA, Japan -- Toyota Motor earned less than a fifth in per-vehicle earnings compared with Tesla during the April-December period as Japan's giant automaker struggles to absorb rising costs. Toyota earned 240,000 yen ($1,820) in net profit per unit during that time span last year. In contrast, Tesla raked in the equivalent of 1.26 million yen per vehicle during the same period.

Feb 9, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Yuki Fukumoto

NAGOYA -- Japanese trading house Toyota Tsusho will acquire SoftBank Group unit SB Energy as early as April, aiming to expand its footprint in solar power and other renewable energy-related businesses. Toyota Tsusho will purchase an 85% stake under plans announced Thursday, while SoftBank will retain 15%.