Toyota's all-electric SUV to debut next year

Oct 30, 2021 | News On Japan

Oct 30, 2021 (NHK) - Toyota Motor has unveiled the first electric vehicle under its dedicated EV brand, Toyota bZ. It is an SUV that will go on sale by the middle of next year.

The automaker said on Friday it plans to bring seven fully electric bZ models to the global market by 2025.

Toyota says the vehicle's range is roughly 500 kilometers on a single charge. It says it aims to achieve world-class battery performance with a 90-percent capacity retention ratio after 10 years' use.

A solar panel in the roof can generate enough electricity to run 1,800 kilometers a year. That means the vehicle can still be used even when disasters or other events make regular charging impossible.

Toyota's Japanese rivals are also launching new EVs. Nissan will start global sales this winter, while Honda plans to release new models in China next spring.

Typhoon No. 25 Moves Away From Japan Into Pacific

Typhoon No. 25 was moving away from Japan over waters to the east early on September 22, bringing an end to rainfall across the Kanto region while remaining a strong storm as it tracked northeast at 45 kilometers per hour at 3 a.m.

Rail Links to Narita Airport Disrupted as Typhoon Damage Lingers

Severe transport disruption continued across Chiba Prefecture on the morning of September 22 even as Typhoon No. 25 moved away from Japan, with major JR lines still suspended, rail access to Narita Airport disrupted by river flooding, highways closed across the Boso Peninsula and thousands of travelers dealing with the aftermath of the previous day's cancellations.

Japan Takes 12 Medals on Asian Games Day 3

Japan collected another 12 medals on Day 3 of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 21, with 17-year-old swimmer Shin Ohashi and karateka Kakeru Nishiyama winning gold, while the host nation also advanced strongly in women's volleyball, baseball, soccer, handball and hockey.

Japan's Elderly Population Hits Record 29.6%

People aged 65 and older accounted for a record 29.6% of Japan's population in 2026, the highest proportion among major countries worldwide, while the number of elderly people in employment also reached an all-time high as Japan marked Respect for the Aged Day on September 21.

Emperor and Empress Watch Asian Games Basketball

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako watched Japan defeat Kazakhstan in a women’s basketball preliminary-round game at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Japan's Elderly Population Hits Record 29.6%

Emperor and Empress Visit Ghibli Park

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture on September 20, touring exhibits that recreate famous scenes from Studio Ghibli films and posing for a photograph with the character No-Face.

Four Teens Rearrested Over Fatal Assault on 17-Year-Old

Police in Kanagawa Prefecture have rearrested four teenagers on suspicion of murdering a 17-year-old high school student who died after being assaulted in Sagamihara in August.

Why Kansai People Go to Drinking Parties

Drinking parties remain a lively part of social life in Kansai even as younger generations increasingly turn away from alcohol and izakaya bankruptcies rise at a record pace, with customers describing the gatherings less as occasions to drink heavily and more as opportunities to maintain friendships, meet new people and build connections across generations.

'Tokuryu' Criminal Gangs Target Elderly Victims with Refrigerator Trick

Anonymous and fluid criminal groups known in Japan as "tokuryu" are adopting increasingly elaborate tactics, including a scheme in which elderly victims are persuaded to hide cash inside refrigerators before thieves enter their homes, as authorities struggle to combat networks whose members often have no direct contact with one another.