Tesla, BYD to launch electric SUVs in Japan

Jan 26 (NHK) - The world's two largest electric vehicle makers want to make bigger inroads into Japan's struggling EV market. America's Tesla and China's BYD both have plans to roll out new SUVs in April.

Global leader Tesla says its Model Y can get up to 635 kilometers to a charge.

The vehicle has eight cameras to monitor surroundings and assist with basic driving functions, such as changing lanes on expressways.

World number two BYD says its Sealion 7 SUV has a range of up to 590 kilometers.

A touch panel allows the driver to open and close the windows and trunk and control air conditioning.

Last year motorists only bought around 60,000 EVs in Japan. That was a sharp fall of nearly a third from the previous year. The figure represented a small fraction of all auto sales -- just 1.3 percent.

Osaka Expands Indoor Smoking Ban

From April 1st, a new regulation took effect across Osaka Prefecture requiring all restaurants with a customer seating area larger than 30 square meters to become entirely smoke-free indoors—unless they install a designated smoking room. Establishments violating the rule face fines of up to 50,000 yen, while customers may be fined up to 30,000 yen.

Japan's Imperial Household Launches YouTube Channel

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