Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced today that the development and production plans for its next-generation batteries (performance version) and all-solid-state batteries were certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as part of the Japanese government’s “Supply Assurance Plan for Batteries.” Certification was granted for (1) production of... Read more →

Nissan Motor announced that its development and mass production of in-vehicle, lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries has been certified in Japan by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). Through the development and mass-production of LFP batteries, Nissan intends to establish a base in Japan by strengthening the supply chain of... Read more →

NYK reached a basic agreement for the marine transport of green ammonia to Japan in collaboration with Kyushu Electric Power Company, Sojitz Corporation and Sembcorp Green Hydrogen Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries, a leading energy company in Asia engaged in a project to produce green ammonia.... Read more →

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) will start an EV truck battery-swapping demonstration on public roads in Kyoto, Japan from August 2024. MFTBC’s electric light-duty “eCanter” truck equipped with Ample’s swappable battery modules are being used for the demonstration. eCanter’s batteries will be swapped at Ample’s battery swapping stations... Read more →

Honda Motor and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) announced plans to establish a new 50/50 joint venture (JV) company, ALTNA Co., Ltd. (ALTNA), in July 2024. The new JV is based on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) the two companies signed in October 2023 to begin discussions toward the creation of new... Read more →

Nissan has commenced demonstrations of a prototype vehicle equipped with its in-house-developed, autonomous drive technologies—showcasing progress in its goal towards rolling out autonomous mobility services within fiscal year 2027. The Nissan LEAF prototype vehicle incorporates 14 cameras, 10 radars and 6 LIDAR sensors. It demonstrates Nissan’s progress in the field... Read more →

Idemitsu Kosan, ENEOS, Toyota Motor, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries commenced a study toward the introduction and spread of carbon-neutral fuels that contribute to the decarbonization of automobiles with the aim of realizing a carbon-neutral society. Seeking to introduce carbon-neutral fuels in Japan around 2030, the four companies fulfilling major roles... Read more →

Japan-based IHI announced that Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has chosen the company’s initiative for electric power control and thermal and air management system technology development for the Next-Generation Aircraft Development Project under NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund program. Prototype of megawatt-class engine-embedded electric machine for use... Read more →

Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a new joint initiative in next-generation-mobility and energy-related services utilizing electric vehicles (EVs) to contribute to solving regional societal issues and to creating vibrant future communities. Japan as a country has been addressing issues such as driver shortages... Read more →

Nissan Motor announced its roadmap to commercialize its inhouse-developed, autonomous-drive mobility services (SAE Level 4 equivalent) in Japan. Nissan has been testing business models for mobility services in Japan and abroad since 2017. These vicinities include the Minato Mirai area of Yokohama and Namie town, Fukushima Prefecture, where a manned... Read more →

Nissan Motor will launch Nissan Energy Share in Japan on 1 March to unlock further value from electric vehicles. The new service features Nissan-unique energy management technology that controls the charging and discharging of EV batteries. Nissan has been researching the most efficient ways of managing energy through studies and... Read more →

Chiyoda Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation will jointly develop large-scale electrolysis systems and construct a strategic partnership and have signed a basic agreement on cooperation. The overall goal is to contribute to achieving the government targets for the introduction of electrolysis equipment both in Japan and overseas as part of... Read more →

Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. (YPT), a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd., has begun development of a hydrogen-fueled 4-stroke high-speed engine for power generation for coastal vessels in Japan as part of the Nippon Foundation’s zero-emission ship demonstration experiment. Pilot-ignition 6-cylinder hydrogen engine. In parallel with the hydrogen engine... Read more →

Twelve companies in Japan from the automotive, electrical component and semiconductor sectors, have established the Advanced SoC Research for Automotive (ASRA) on to conduct research and develop high-performance digital semiconductors (System on Chip, SoC) for use in automobiles. ASRA will research and develop SoCs for automobiles using chiplet technology to... Read more →

A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the City of Yokohama and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) focused on the development of green methanol bunkering infrastructure in Yokohama. Maersk’s 16,000 TEU green methanol-powered container vessels will be delivered beginning in 2024. Maersk is targeting net-zero emissions by 2040... Read more →

Mitsubishi Corporation and Amogy entered a strategic partnership that will focus on accelerating the adoption of Amogy’s ammonia-to-power and ammonia cracking technology in large-scale hydrogen carrier applications in East Asia, particularly Japan and South Korea. The joint study, set to commence in December 2023 with SK Innovation, will first assess... Read more →

Isuzu Motors and Honda Motor began demonstration testing on public roads in Japan of the GIGA FUEL CELL, a fuel cell (FC)-powered heavy-duty truck currently being co-developed by the two companies. (Earlier post.) Through this demonstration testing, scheduled to run through September 2024, the two companies will continue making progress... Read more →

JERA, the Japan-based energy company created through the consolidation of the fuel and thermal power departments of the Tokyo Electric Power Company and the Chubu Electric Power Company, launched a joint study with NYK Line and Resonac aimed at achieving the first supply of fuel ammonia to ships. JERA is... Read more →

In its Short-Term Energy Outlook, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts the lowest annual petroleum consumption in Japan in 2024 since at least 1980, in part due to the country’s aging and declining population. Japan’s reduced consumption is already affecting its refining industry. Japanese refiner ENEOS permanently closed a... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors’ new Minicab EV, a kei-car-class electric commercial vehicle with a monobox design, will go on sale nationwide in Japan on 21 December. The Minicab EV two-seater is priced at ¥2,431,000 (US$16,300), and the four-seater is priced at ¥2,486,000 (US$16,640) (10% consumption tax included). The new Minicab EV is... Read more →

Japan Airlines has separately signed basic agreements with three hydrogen-electric aircraft/engine manufacturers—H2FLY GmbH, Universal Hydrogen Co., and ZeroAvia Inc.—to study the safety, economic feasibility and maintainability etc., for hydrogen fuel cell-powered next generation aircraft. JAL Engineering Co., Ltd. (JALEC), which is in charge of aircraft maintenance for the JAL Group,... Read more →

Last year, Toyota unveiled the all-new Crown with four model types: sedan, sport, wagon and crossover. (Earlier post.) The first model out of the lineup was the crossover type. Now, Toyota has unveiled its all-new Crown Sedan model in Japan and will begin accepting orders. The launch is planned for... Read more →

Cruise, General Motors and Honda have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding aiming to establish a joint venture which will begin a driverless ridehail service in Japan in early 2026. The three companies aim to establish this new company in the first half of 2024 pending regulatory approvals. With this... Read more →

Daimler Truck AG and its Japanese subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso Bus and Truck Corporation announced the handover of the first FUSO Next Generation eCanter (earlier post) to Yamoto Transport Co, Ltd.. The all-electric truck is the first of around 900 Next Generation eCanters Yamoto Transport ordered from FUSO—the largest single order... Read more →

The Nikkei reports that Japan and the UK are set to make joint investments in critical minerals in Africa and other places. The two countries will also establish a framework for discussing economic security at the ministerial level, with a focus on supply chains. The two countries reportedly aim to... Read more →

The Nikkei reports that Japan plans to more than double the output of electric vehicle chargers used at highway service areas. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will require operators to increase the output to at least 90 kW—more than twice the current average—by 2030. For high traffic... Read more →

Hitachi Astemo announced that Isuzu Motors has adopted its sensing system in its new ELF light-duty truck model. Using a wide-angle stereo camera, the sensing system enables collision damage mitigation braking at intersections and on single-track roads. With its enhanced safety equipment, the new ELF is the first light-duty truck... Read more →

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has been selected as the core company in charge of the conceptual design of an demonstration fast reactor which the Japanese Government aims to place into operation in the 2040s. MHI will oversee both the conceptual design as well as research and development (R&D) for... Read more →

Toyota Motor Corporation has started offering an upgrade service in Japan that allows customers to evolve their cars swiftly in line with technological innovation as part of the company’s efforts to enhance car value. The service is available for the Prius U Grade. Toyota has been offering retrofitting of new... Read more →

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TEPCO HD) and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) have developed a stationary storage battery system (1 MW output, 3 MWh capacity) that combines TEPCO’s operating technology and safety standards for stationary storage batteries and Toyota’s system technology for electrified vehicle storage batteries. This system will... Read more →

China-based EV startup U Power Limited entered into a framework strategic cooperation agreement with Quantum Solutions Co., Ltd., the first and only independent Japanese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, to develop business initiatives relating to marketing, research and development of new energy vehicles, financial technologies,... Read more →

Daimler Truck Holding AG, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), Hino Motors Ltd. (Hino) and Toyota Motor Corporation concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on accelerating the development of advanced technologies and merging MFTBC and Hino. Daimler Truck, MFTBC, Hino, and Toyota will collaborate toward achieving carbon neutrality by... Read more →

Neste and ITOCHU have agreed to extend their collaboration with a licensing agreement allowing ITOCHU to become an official distributor of Neste MY Renewable Diesel in Japan. Based on this agreement, the availability of Neste MY Renewable Diesel will be expanded in the market, for example, to the area around... Read more →

Panasonic Holdings Corporation and Marubeni Corporation will establish a joint venture for the purpose of providing fleet management services for commercial electric vehicles. Panasonic HD and Marubeni aim to provide integrated support for the introduction and operations of EVs to large fleet operators. While the adoption of EVs is gaining... Read more →

Suzuki Motor, Daihatsu Motor, and Toyota Motor will unveil prototype mini-commercial van electric vehicles (BEVs) equipped with a jointly developed BEV system. The unveiling will take place at an exhibition event that introduces the automobile industry’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality (CN), from 18-21 May. The three companies jointly developed... Read more →

Isuzu Motors and Honda Motor signed a partnership agreement to have Honda develop and supply the fuel cell system for the fuel cell-powered heavy-duty truck Isuzu is planning to introduce to market in 2027. Joint Isuzu-Honda R&D efforts produced a fuel cell-powered heavy-duty truck that has been granted a Japanese... Read more →

Yamaha Motor, Honda Motor, Kawasaki Motors and Suzuki Motor received approval from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to form a technological research association called HySE (Hydrogen Small mobility & Engine technology) for developing hydrogen-powered engines for small mobility. Small mobility vehicles include motorcycles, Japan-originated mini-vehicles, small marine... Read more →

Idemitsu Kosan, one of Japan’s leading producers and suppliers of energy, has launched a feasibility study of clean hydrogen production in Japan generated from waste, including municipal waste. The goal is to launch a first hydrogen production facility around 2030 capable of processing 200-300 tons of waste per day. The... Read more →

Japan has published a new biofuels policy that will allow the United States to capture up to 100% of Japan’s on-road ethanol market, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. According to the new biofuels policy under the Sophisticated Methods of Energy Supply Structure Act, exports of... Read more →

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Japan’s Ambassador to the United States, Tomita Koji, signed a critical minerals agreement. The agreement builds on the 2019 US-Japan Trade Agreement and will strengthen and diversify critical minerals supply chains and promote the adoption of electric vehicle battery technologies. In particular, the... Read more →

Universal Hydrogen (earlier post) has formed a collaboration with three Japan-based companies to study—and ultimately to develop—a green hydrogen supply and logistics solution that will enable Japanese airlines to scale their utilization of hydrogen-powered aircraft in the very near-term. Collectively, Universal Hydrogen alongside Sojitz Corporation, Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc., and... Read more →

Australia-based Lynas Rare Earths Limited has signed new agreements with Japan Australia Rare Earths B.V. (JARE). The new agreements will further strengthen the Lynas balance sheet and support funding of capital projects designed to meet accelerating global demand for rare earth materials. JARE was co-founded in 2011 by Sojitz Corporation... Read more →

Fukuoka Prefecture, Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT), and Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) will conduct trials of a small fuel cell electric bus (FC bus) that runs on hydrogen on the BRT Hikoboshi Line , a bus rapid transit (BRT) system planned for launch around the summer of 2023.... Read more →

JFE Steel Corporation, which is expanding the electrical steel sheet capacity of its West Japan Works (Kurashiki Area) for startup targeted at the first half of the fiscal year starting in April 2024, is now planning an additional expansion targeted at a startup in the fiscal year beginning April 2026.... Read more →

Nippon Paper Industries, Sumitomo and Green Earth Institute agreed to begin trilateral consideration of the first commercial production of cellulosic bioethanol from woody biomass in Japan and its development into bio-chemical products. Bioethanol is currently attracting attention as a renewable energy source and as feedstock for biofuels such as SAF... Read more →

The Nikkei reports that in 2024, Japan will begin to extract rare earth materials for electric vehicles and hybrids from sea bottom mud in an area off Minami-Torishima Island, a coral atoll in the Pacific Ocean about 1,900 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. The government’s aim is to reduce the country’s... Read more →

Fukuoka Prefecture and Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corporation (CJPT) have entered a partnership agreement that includes jointly implementing initiatives to expand the adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles (FC mobility) for vehicles in the logistics industry, public transportation, and official government use. The aim is to advance the development of... Read more →

In Japan, JERA concluded memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) related to cooperation in transporting fuel ammonia for the Hekinan Thermal Power Plant, expected to begin commercial operation in the late 2020s. JERA is a 50-50 joint venture between TEPCO Fuel... Read more →

China-based Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and Daihatsu Motor, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota, announced an MOU of Strategic Cooperation on battery supply and battery technologies to promote e-mobility in Japan. Under the agreement, CATL intends to provide stable supply of EV batteries to the electric vehicles of Daihatsu,... Read more →

Toyota Motor will join seven other leading Japanese companies—Sony Group, NEC, Toyota supplier Denso, NTT, chipmaker Kioxia Holdings, SoftBank and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Grou—in working with the Japanese government in a new next-generation semiconductor venture named Rapidus. The companies are investing a combined ¥7.3 billion (US$52.2 billion) and the government... Read more →