million to develop a new regional headquarters complex in Wixom, Michigan. In response to the increasingly complicated software requirements in autonomous driving and electrification, Astemo will strengthen its competitiveness in SDV (Software Defined Vehicle) technologies in the U.S. as well as in Japan. Astemo Americas' new 26-acre campus in Wixom will have a testing facility including test tracks and 185,000 square-feet of office and lab space...

News  Updated at: 2025/09/04

August new vehicle sales in Japan drop for second month The total number of new vehicles sold in Japan in August was 301,221 units, a year-over-year (y/y) decrease of 8.3% for the second month in a row. Consumers’ appetite for buying vehicles declined due to price hikes in commodities and vehicles. Many automakers experienced a sales decrease due to long delivery times and suspended orders for some vehicle models. While sales of Suzuki and Suba...

News  Updated at: 2025/09/02

Akebono Brake aiming to double ratio of replacement brake pad sales Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd. (Akebono Brake) plans to increase the ratio of replacement brake pad sales to around 15% by the fiscal year that ends in March 2028 (FY 2027). The FY 2024 ratio was about 7% of the total sales of JPY 161.7 billion. The company will focus on the sales of high value-added products in Japan and the U.S. Since it will reduce its plants in the U.S. to ...

News  Updated at: 2025/09/02

JMS 2025: Daimler Truck launches Mercedes-Benz Actros and Arocs in Japan On September 1, Daimler Truck and its partner Y-Engineering announced that they are launching two Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty transporters i.e. the Actros and Arocs, in Japan. Orders are now open, and the Arocs 4763 8x6 will debut at the Japan Mobility Show (JMA) 2025 from October 29 to November 9, 2025, in Tokyo. The Arocs 4763 8x6 comes with a 15.6-liter OM 473 engine which g...

News  Updated at: 2025/09/01

ailand posted a 100% increase. Singapore, meanwhile, saw Subaru sales surge 181%, outpacing total market growth thanks to process improvements and cost rationalization. The Group is transitioning Southeast Asian markets from Complete Knock Down (CKD) assembly to Complete Build Up (CBU) imports from Japan.  Despite challenges, Motor Image remains optimistic about a stronger second half of 2025, driven by the Forester Hybrid. (From TCIL release an...

News  Updated at: 2025/09/01

Mexico reaches fifth place in global automotive production in 2024 On August 28, it was reported that global vehicle production reached 92.5 million units in 2024, according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA). Mexico secured fifth place worldwide with 4.2 million units, surpassing South Korea and Brazil, and ranking behind only China, the United States, Japan, and India. Asia-Oceania led with 54.9 million unit...

News  Updated at: 2025/09/01

Japan’s vehicle production for January to June 2025 marks first growth in two years On August 29, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (Chairman Masanori Katayama) announced that vehicle production in Japan for the first half (January through June) of 2025 increased by 7.1% year-over-year (y/y) to 4,171,653 units, marking the first y/y growth in two years. The production volume of all vehicle types, passenger cars, trucks, and b...

News  Updated at: 2025/09/01

Indian Prime Minister expects Japanese companies’ investment in batteries and other fields in India Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, visited Japan on August 29 and attended the India-Japan Economic Forum held at a hotel in Tokyo. The Indian leader said that, “Our partnership in the auto sector has been successful. We can together replicate the same magic in other fields such as batteries, robotics, and nuclear energy,” expecting inve...

News  Updated at: 2025/09/01

Japanese government to take measures on end of vehicle production at Nissan Oppama Plant Regarding the end of vehicle production at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.’s (Nissan) Oppama Plant (Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture), on August 29, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)announced measures for companies that will be affected. The Ministry will establish special consultation windows for financing, offer cash flow support through p...

News  Updated at: 2025/09/01

Samvardhana Motherson, India to acquire 81% in Japan’s Yutaka Giken On August 29, Samvardhana Motherson International Limited (SAMIL) announced that it will acquire an 81% stake in Yutaka Giken Co., Ltd. (YGCL), a Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed manufacturer of metal components and assemblies, including rotors, stators, drive and brake systems, and thermal management systems. The acquisition will be made via SAMIL’s 100% indirect subsidiary, Mot...

News  Updated at: 2025/08/29

Isuzu to launch dedicated autonomous driving test course for commercial vehicles in Mukawa, Hokkaido On August 28, Isuzu Motors Limited announced that it will establish a new dedicated autonomous driving test course within the grounds of Isuzu Hokkaido Proving Ground Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Mukawa, Hokkaido, Japan). This course is Japan’s first dedicated autonomous driving test course established by a commercial vehicle manufacturer. It is ...

News  Updated at: 2025/08/29

JMS 2025: Honda to exhibit wide variety of mobility products for land, sea and skies On August 28, Honda Motor announced plans to exhibit a wide variety of Honda mobility products, including automobiles, motorcycles, power products and aircraft, as well as related technologies and concept models at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 (press days: October 29 – 30, public days: October 31 – November 9, 2025). The company also unveiled some of the mode...

News  Updated at: 2025/08/28

Y 2.86 trillion, operating profit by JPY 30 billion to JPY 70 billion, net profit by JPY 30 billion to JPY 10 billion, and unit sales by 9,000 units to 869,000 units. The direct impact of the tariffs has been revised from JPY 30 billion to JPY 32 billion. On July 23, the U.S. reached agreement with Japan to impose 15% tariff on Japanese automobiles and automotive parts, including the existing tariff. While Mitsubishi Motors did not change its FY ...

News  Updated at: 2025/08/28

Suzuki resumes shipments of Jimny Nomade to Japan It was reported that Suzuki Motor Corporation (Suzuki) has resumed shipments of its 5-door Jimny Nomade on August 26. The automaker has been manufacturing the Jimny Nomade in India and supplies them to Japan. It announced the new model on January 30, and suspended accepting orders since the number of orders reached about 50,000 units in four days, much more than its monthly sales target of 1,200 u...

News  Updated at: 2025/08/28

Japanese government to seek FY 2026 budget without specific amount for system to accept U.S.-made imported cars Regarding the cost associated with discussions about a system that accepts U.S.-made imported cars without additional tests, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will discuss it with the Ministry of Finance at a budgeting stage to seek funds without specifying the amount, separately from its fiscal 2026 budg...

News  Updated at: 2025/08/27

Lanxess to enter into lithium iron phosphate business Lanxess AG (Lanxess), a major German chemical company, held a business briefing in Japan to explain its business plan, and announced that it will enter into the business of iron phosphate that is a positive electrode material for material automotive lithium iron phosphate (LFP) lithium-ion batteries. The company aims to satisfy the needs of automakers and battery manufacturers in developed cou...

News  Updated at: 2025/08/26

Four Japanese tire manufacturers see mixed financial results in January-June 2025 Four Japanese tire manufacturers have reported their financial results for January-June 2025. Net profits for all four companies fell year-on-year, due in part to a backlash from the weak yen. However, sales were mixed with sales of The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. (Yokohama Rubber) and Toyo Tire Corporation increasing, and sales of Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone...

News  Updated at: 2025/08/25

Japanese government to set up government-industry-academia committee to discuss economic partnership with Africa The Japanese government will establish a committee that consists of representatives from the government, industry and academia of Japan and Africa to discuss economic cooperation. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced this at the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) held in Yokohama City from ...

News  Updated at: 2025/08/25

s driving under specific conditions) with Imiron Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo), a technology startup. It will be a rare initiative globally to prove the safety of autonomous driving using a methodology called “the formal methods” as well as mathematical proofs. It is also the first attempt in Japan to apply this methodology to actual operations. By achieving “explainable safety,” they aim to close the gap between technology and credibil...

News  Updated at: 2025/08/25

Kenya and Japan discuss Samurai Financing for local vehicle assembly and parts manufacturing On August 21, the Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya announced that the Kenyan government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Nippon Export and Investment Insurance to extend up to JPY 25 billion Samurai Financing to Kenya. It will strengthen local vehicle assembly and parts manufacturing.  The Samurai Financing will accelerate Kenya’s industri...

News  Updated at: 2025/08/22