BYD is challenging top automakers with affordable electric vehicles, like the Seal sedan. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
Automobiles

China's BYD beats Honda and Nissan in April-June vehicles sold

Leading EV maker shakes up auto industry rankings with affordable price tags

23 August 2024
Malaysian automaker Proton launched the redesigned X70 SUV on Aug. 15. (Proton)
Automobiles

Malaysia's Proton deepens ties with China's Geely ahead of EV debut

Long-struggling automaker aims for growth under Chinese shareholder

22 August 2024
The Lexus LF-ZC, an EV set to be released in 2026, will use gigacasting for parts. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
Electric vehicles

Toyota to test Tesla-style EV gigacasting machine at Japan plant

Automaker taps cutting-edge production process in bid to lower costs

21 August 2024
Cars are lined up at a Toyota Motor assembly plant in the Japanese city of Miyawaka. A vehicle's software can span over 200 million lines of code. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu)
Cybersecurity

Toyota, Hitachi join Japan's automotive cybersecurity push

Over 100 companies eye rules on software inventories to deter attacks

21 August 2024
Tesla Model 3 vehicles at its factory in Shanghai, China.
Electric vehicles

EU slashes planned tariff on Tesla's China-made EVs to 9%

New reduced rate is set lower than the 20.8% it had indicated in July

20 August 2024
South Korean and Mercedes-Benz officials conduct a joint examination on Aug. 8 of an electric car that caught fire at apartment complex in Incheon, South Korea.
Electric vehicles

Mercedes-Benz under pressure following South Korea EV blaze

Details of fire under investigation as residents call on company to make payout

20 August 2024
In May, China Southern Airlines opened direct flights from Shenzhen to Mexico City, the company’s longest passenger route.
Transportation

China-Mexico flights reopen amid manufacturers' Latin American push

BYD's plans for new plant in the country could further boost air travel demand

20 August 2024
Toyota's net profit for April-June increased 2% year-on-year despite the market forecasting a 7% decline.
Business trends

70% of Japan companies beat market profit forecasts for April-June

Toyota, Hitachi and others lifted by weak yen and foreign demand

17 August 2024
German automaker BMW and its China joint venture will recall a combined 1.36 million locally produced and imported cars.
Automobiles

BMW, China venture to recall 1.36m cars due to airbags, regulator says

Order over potential risks from Takata airbags affects 2003-2017 models

16 August 2024
Pilbara Minerals is looking to diversify its portfolio with the acquisition of Latin Resources and its Brazilian lithium project. (Photo from Pilbara Minerals website)
Commodities

Australia's Pilbara Minerals makes $370m bid for Brazil lithium project

Lithium miner moves to diversify outside home market with eye on serving U.S. and EU

15 August 2024
Flags of ASEAN member nations are seen. Japan aims to counter Chinese influence in the region.
Supply Chain

Isuzu, Sojitz to join Japan's ASEAN chip, EV supply chain push

15 companies to receive subsidies to build operations in Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand

15 August 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, third from left, visits the site of a planned Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. plant in Arizona in 2022.
Semiconductors

U.S. chip, EV industries struggle to take off despite huge subsidies

2 years after CHIPS Act and IRA, investments lag and supply chains remain China-reliant

15 August 2024
The Mount Holland lithium mine in Southern Cross, Western Australia: Some producers of the key ingredient in EV batteries are scaling back production as others push ahead.
Commodities

As lithium slump drags on, some Australian miners look to grow

Operators push through gloom to position for long-term demand forecasts

14 August 2024
CATL's new showroom, which does not sell cars, features models from around 50 global brands. (Photo by Shizuka Tanabe)
Electric vehicles

CATL markets itself directly to consumers in rivalry with BYD

Company showroom sports 50 EV brands from Tesla to Xiaomi, all with its batteries

14 August 2024
These vehicle carcasses were left by a fire that broke out Aug. 1, reportedly under the hood of a Mercedes-Benz EV in the underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Incheon, South Korea.
Electric vehicles

South Korea EV fires spark calls for stricter safety rules

Analysts foresee potential sales decline in fallout after blazes

13 August 2024
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, left, and Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump 
U.S. elections 2024

Trump tells Musk he hopes to 'get along' with Xi, Putin in X interview

Former President also says to Tesla CEO not everybody should have an EV

13 August 2024
Zeekr's high-end electric vehicles such as the 009 model, right, have gained a following in China. (Photo by Tomoko Wakasugi)
Electric vehicles

China's Zeekr to bring luxury EVs to Japan in 2025

Geely brand follows BYD into market that is less crowded than China's

13 August 2024
A Honda concept car is presented at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo in October 2023. The automaker plans to recycle plastic from scrapped cars for use in new vehicles. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)
Automobiles

Honda, Nissan to recycle plastic from scrapped cars

Proposed environmental rules in Europe drive push to create supply chains

12 August 2024
Electric and other new energy vehicles accounted for over 50% of China's domestic passenger auto sales for the first time in July.
Automobiles

China's auto sales slide 5% in July, dipping 2nd straight month

New energy vehicles make up majority of passenger auto sales for 1st time

10 August 2024
An electric vehicle from China's Dongfeng Motor. The European Union has imposed provisional tariffs of up to 37.6% on EVs made in China, saying they unfairly benefit from government subsidies.
Electric vehicles

China files WTO complaint against EU over tariffs on EVs

Beijing says it will 'safeguard the development rights and interests' of industry

9 August 2024
Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO of Ola Cabs and founder of Ola Electric, third from left, rings the bell during Ola Electric's listing ceremony at the National Stock Exchange in Mumbai on Aug. 9.
IPO

Shares in Indian e-scooter maker Ola close up 20% after tepid debut

Softbank-backed startup yet to make profit despite accelerating sales

9 August 2024
Workers make Honda SUVs at an auto plant in China's Hubei province.
Automobiles

Japan's automakers lose market share in China, Thailand as EVs spread

Companies rethink their strategy in these countries as competition accelerates

8 August 2024
A Hyundai electric vehicle being charged in Seoul: Hyundai's Thai factory, to be located just southeast of Bangkok, will start production in 2026.
Electric vehicles

Hyundai to invest $28m in Thailand for EV assembly and batteries

Production to start in 2026, challenging Chinese makers' dominance

7 August 2024
Honda trails behind Tesla and Chinese rivals in the EV race. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
Automobiles

Honda has new alliance, but can it match Toyota on this stock metric?

Automaker needs to deliver on cost cuts, shareholder returns as it pursues EV scale

7 August 2024