News On Japan

Sep 02

Tesla gets sportscar subsidy in Japan (bizjournals.com)

Electric sportscar maker Tesla Motors Inc. got its Roadster put on a list of green vehicles in Japan, a move that could cut its price there by a quarter. Even so, a rebated Roadster ain't cheap in Japan -- the government rebate will lop 3.24 million yen, or $38,360, off the $152,100 price tag. Rebates and tax breaks are an important part of Tesla's marketing. Early on, Tesla factored a $7,500 tax credit into the prices for its sedan, the Model S.

Aug 25

Prius gets humming device to give pedestrians ears-up (Japan Times)

Toyota's Prius hybrid is becoming a little less quiet with a new electronic humming device the automaker hopes answers complaints from pedestrians who can't hear the top-selling car approaching. The ¥12,600 speaker system, which will be installed under the hood of the third-generation Prius, sets off a whirring sound designed to be about the same noise level as a regular car engine so it isn't annoying, Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday.

Aug 05

Japan's automakers recover but challenges remain (AFP)

Japan's top automakers reported strong results for the quarter ended June as they reap the benefits of a rebound in global demand, but concerns such as a strong yen cloud their outlook, say analysts. The top three automakers, Toyota, Honda and Nissan, saw quarterly profits surge on-year as the industry recovers from the lows hit in a financial crisis that forced the companies to scale back production and slash thousands of jobs.

Aug 04

More Hondas are built in U.S. than in Japan (Detroit News)

For the first time in its history, Honda Motor Co. built more vehicles in the United States during the April-June quarter than it did in Japan. Honda, the first Japanese company to build a car factory in the United States, said its U.S. output totaled 236,819 vehicles in its fiscal first quarter. It produced 236,559 vehicles in Japan in the same period. Spokesman David Iida confirmed Tuesday that it was the first time that Honda's U.S. vehicle output had exceeded Japan's for a full quarter.

Jul 20

Honda to have plug-in hybrid by 2013 (USA Today)

Honda Motor President Takanobu Ito will announce Hond's hybrid and alternative vehicle plans at a news conference on Tuesday -- and they will include both a plug-in hybrid car and an all-electric vehicle in 2013, according the Nikkei business daily in Japan and reported by Reuters. The paper also said Honda is considering building its Insight and two other hybrids in the U.S. and plans to expand its lineup of hybrids to five or so by 2013. It also said the electric car will roll out first in the U.S., according to the Reuters report.