Honda will launch a new compact electric vehicle in Japan as it seeks to expand EV sales and rebuild its four-wheel business following its first annual loss since listing.

Honda said it expects to post its first net loss since going public in the fiscal year ending March 2026, underscoring the heavy cost of its abrupt retreat from electric vehicle expansion.

SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group have jointly established a new company aimed at developing domestically produced artificial intelligence, as Japan seeks to regain competitiveness in the rapidly advancing global AI sector.

Honda announced it will launch a new compact electric vehicle designed to appeal to dedicated car enthusiasts, with sales set to begin in late May.

Sony and Honda have decided to halt their jointly developed electric vehicle project, with their joint venture Sony Honda Mobility announcing on March 25th that it will cancel the development and launch of its new EV, the "AFEELA 1," as a reassessment of Honda’s EV strategy made it difficult to continue utilizing Honda’s technology and production support, ultimately leading to the conclusion that commercialization would be unfeasible.

Honda announced on February 26th that it will introduce a new model of its SUV, the CR-V, with prices starting at 5,122,700 yen.

Japanese automakers that have long relied on domestic or Western-made semiconductors are increasingly adopting Chinese-made automotive chips, marking a significant shift in procurement strategy as companies such as Toyota and Suzuki move to install Chinese systems not only in vehicles sold in China but also in models destined for other markets.

The European Union has announced plans to introduce a new vehicle category, known as “M1E,” aimed at accelerating the spread of affordable electric vehicles, drawing inspiration from Japan’s kei car standards, with discussions set to begin soon with EU member states and the European Parliament to finalize the details.

Honda will return to Formula One from the 2026 season, marking a renewed entry into the world’s top level of motorsport as the company positions racing as a direct driver of its future passenger car business.

According to vehicle-by-model new car sales figures released on January 8th by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and the National Light Motor Vehicle Association, the best-selling vehicle in Japan in 2025 was Honda’s light vehicle N-BOX, marking its fourth consecutive year at the top of the rankings.

New vehicle sales by six Japanese automakers in the United States rose 2.4% from the previous year to 6,023,492 units in 2025, the companies announced on January 5th, as demand remained firm despite higher tariffs introduced under the Trump administration, with three manufacturers surpassing their year-earlier results.

Japan’s auto industry, already facing mounting pressure, is preparing for another major challenge in 2026 as Taiwan-based manufacturing giant Foxconn steps up its push into the Japanese market. Following its earlier focus on Chinese electric vehicle makers, the company is now turning its attention to Japan, raising questions over whether it will become a partner or a rival to domestic automakers.

Honda announced on November 25th that production has resumed at its automobile plant in Mexico after operations were halted from late October due to a semiconductor shortage.

Japanese automakers are under increasing pressure as China’s aggressive push in electric vehicles continues and the impact of U.S. tariffs under former President Donald Trump looms large. With total tariff-related losses for seven major manufacturers projected to reach 1.5 trillion yen, analysts are examining how Japanese companies plan to stay competitive.

Honda has announced plans to release four new motorcycle models, including the Super Cub 110 Pro Lite, designed to meet stricter emissions standards set to take effect in November.

A former pet shop owner convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting several female employees and sentenced to 30 years in prison appealed his case at the Fukuoka High Court on October 14th, again claiming that the acts were consensual.

Nissan, currently in the midst of rebuilding its business, has unveiled a new model of its world-first mass-produced electric vehicle, the Leaf, as part of efforts to revive the company’s fortunes. The automaker will begin domestic sales of the third-generation Leaf on October 17th.

Francesco Bagnaia delivered a flawless weekend at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, taking pole position, winning Saturday’s Sprint, and dominating the main race at Motegi to secure maximum points.

Honda announced that it will begin sales of a one-person electric mobility vehicle, the UNI-ONE, on September 24th for corporate clients.

Honda said it will relocate its headquarters to the Yaesu district in front of Tokyo Station sometime in 2029. The company will transfer part of its ownership interest in its headquarters building in Minami-Aoyama, which is currently under reconstruction, to Mitsui Fudosan Residential.

A dreadlocked man with a muscular build has been arrested and indicted on charges tied to special fraud after allegedly posing as a police officer.

Listen, I've eaten a lot of ramen in my time. Sodium-bomb packets (when I didn’t have to mind my sodium intake) that sustained me through college, $25 artisanal bowls that make my wallet weep, to anything in between.

Deep in the World Heritage-listed island of Yakushima stands the Jomon Sugi, a massive cedar tree long seen as the island’s symbol. But recent coverage has revealed that there are several other trees rivaling or even exceeding its size.

Honda has announced that it successfully completed a landing and takeoff experiment with a small rocket in Taiki Town, located in Hokkaido’s Tokachi region. This achievement marks the first time a Japanese private company has accomplished this feat.

A giant Yakusugi cedar on Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, estimated to be over 1,000 years old and rivaling the island's famous Jomon Cedar with a trunk circumference of about 16 meters, has been revealed and filmed for the first time by JNN cameras.