Waymo self-driving taxis coming to Tokyo – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia, Technology

In the largest metropolitan market for autonomous driving outside China, Waymo has announced plans to introduce its self-driving vehicles to Tokyo in earlier 2025, beating Chinese manufacturers to the limit and taking Tesla’s robot ad.

This past week the Alphabet ( Google ) subsidiary revealed a partnership with Nihon Kotsu, the top taxi and limousine service company in Tokyo, and GO, Japan’s most popular taxi app. The maintenance and maintenance of Waymo cars will be handled by Nihon Kotsu. GO provides easy-to-understand guidance in English.

Second, Nihon Kotsu owners will run Waymo’s cars mechanically to chart the key areas of the city – the heavily traveled and often visited districts of Shinjuku-ku, Shibuya-ku, Minato-ku, Chiyoda-ku, Shinagawa-ku and Koto-ku.

The automatic Jaguar I-PACE autonomous cars will then take their first street excursion outside the US.

Waymo boasts. The business goes on to explains:” The Waymo vehicle is our autonomous driving tech that always gets crazy, tired or distracted”, Waymo boasts. ” We prioritize health and are wary of our footprints every time we test the Waymo Driver in locations far from where we usually operate.” The business describes its process as follows:

First, we transport a little fleet of vehicles carrying the Waymo Driver to a new town. Testing warships are limited and are not accessible to the general public. The vehicles can start driving independently after the Waymo Driver has an understanding of the landscape. People specialists give our executive teams feedback on the driving experience during these trips and highlight novelnuances that may arise from operating in new areas.

Together, our engineering team can analyze the Waymo Driver’s efficiency in a virtual replica of the new location to determine how it generalizes. Our teams continue improving the Waymo Driver’s abilities and support experience using the new insights and learnings gained during this time.

Driving in dozens of different locations over the years has helped shape the capabilities and design of our detecting technology, enhance Waymo Driver’s efficiency in the cities where we now operate, and safely transfer our technologies to new locations.

Enjoy a picture of a Waymo vehicle moving through traffic here. &nbsp,

Tokyo’s road map is quite complex and, like the British, the Chinese pull on the left-hand side of the road. This may require some adjusting. However, Waymo would be able to qualify its knowledge from Tokyo to London and other major cities, such as Delhi and Mumbai, where they drive left.

Waymo has a somewhat low injury rate, with about one incident resulting in harm per million miles of travelling, as noted by computer professor Timothy Lee.

In Waymo’s estimation, compared with the average human driver over 25 million miles of driving in Phoenix and San Francisco, the Waymo Driver had 81 % fewer airbag deployment crashes, 72 % fewer injury causing crashes and 57 % fewer police-reported crashes. So far, no fatalities have been reported.

But Waymo Driver does make mistakes. Last June, while on the way to pick up a passenger in Phoenix, a Waymo self-driving taxi crashed into a telephone pole. The company recalled all 672 autonomous vehicles it was using at the time for a software update, but no one was hurt. Additionally, 444 vehicles were earlier this year and 2 vehicles were recalled in December 2023 for software updates.

Waymo vehicles were involved in 17 crashes and five other instances of potential violations of traffic safety in the six months leading up to 2024. There were no injuries reported.

According to an analysis of US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) data made by Craft Law Firm, a total of&nbsp, 3, 979 accidents&nbsp, involving autonomous vehicles were reported between 2019 and June 17, 2024. After more than doubling to 1, 450 in 2022, the number dropped to 1, 353 in 2023 and was down to 473 in the first half of 2024, demonstrating that safety has improved while the number of autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles on the road, and the number of miles driven, has greatly increased.

In October 2024, Waymo reported that its self-driving taxis were providing more than 150, 000 paid rides per week– up from about 100, 000 in August and 50, 000 last May – over a total distance of more than one million miles.

Of the 3, 979 accidents reported to the NHTSA, Tesla accounted for 2, 146, Waymo for 415, GM for 219, Cruise for 187, Honda for 155, and Subaru, Toyota, Ford, BMW, Kia, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and some 40 other companies for the remainder. Cruise was sold to GM in 2016 and discontinued in December 2024. This was also a setback for Honda, which had collaborated with GM to create self-driving vehicles and had invested in Cruise.

According to a report from the iSeeCars website, Tesla has the highest fatal accident rate among US automakers, according to a study by the iSeeCars website. There is even a tesladeaths .com website, which says it “is a record of Tesla accidents that involved a driver, occupant, cyclist, motorcyclist, or pedestrian death, whether or not the Tesla or its driver were at fault”, with” as much related crash data as possible”. The website, which was updated on October 20, notes 51 fatalities related to Tesla Autopilot and two related to FSD ( Full Self-Driving ).

This is important because, as The Wall Street Journal reported in August,” Since 2021, Tesla has reported over 1, 200 crashes related to its driver assistance system called Autopilot to federal regulators”, and the NHTSA has “tied at least 14 fatalities to the tech]nology ]. However, because NHTSA’s reports are heavily redacted, it’s been difficult for the public to comprehend the significance of Autopilot in crashes. Important details like the crash narrative and even the precise date are omitted from public reports because Tesla views information about Autopilot as proprietary.

In the US, Waymo’s self-driving taxis are currently operating in Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with commercial service in Austin, Atlanta and Miami scheduled to start in 2025. In Austin, a limited test service began in October.

Tesla’s much-hyped robotaxi, which it also calls Cybercab, probably won’t be on the road until late 2026 at the earliest. Elon Musk, CEO, announced the product’s release date in October, saying it would be “before 2027.” Cybercab has been driving Tesla’s stock price higher, but not much else. Furthermore, Tesla has been in Japan since 2014, but there are very few of its vehicles on the road.

A Japanese company called Turing is also developing autonomous driving software that is “equipped with human-like knowledge and decision-making capabilities” and uses neural networks to convert camera images directly into driving commands to enable a self-driving vehicle to travel anywhere and under any circumstances.

Turing is working on generative AI that “directly issues driving instructions from camera images… without using many sensors or high-precision maps.” He believes that “what is necessary for autonomous driving is not good eyes but a good brain. Its current biggest challenge appears to be catching up with and keeping up with Waymo.

Follow this writer on&nbsp, X: @ScottFo83517667

Continue Reading

Gentari and Mastercard Collaborate on EV Adoption Initiative

By:
On:
In: Technology
  • Companies sign an MoU to examine online payment options for charging electric vehicles
  • Partnership aims to support Malaysia’s conservation targets and lower carbon mobility framework

Gentari and Mastercard Collaborate on EV Adoption Initiative

Through its subsidiary, Gentari Green Mobility Sdn Bhd and Mastercard have made an announcement to collaborate to promote the adoption of electric vehicles ( EV ) in Asia Pacific. The two firms signed a Memorandum of Understanding on December 17, 2024, to discover possibilities in advertising, marketing, and online payment options for EV charging.

Collaboration Facts

To encourage inclusive EV implementation in public transport and support carbon reduction efforts, the partnership aims to implement stable and improved digital payment solutions. Gentari, a fresh strength options service, operates a system of EV charging stations across Malaysia, Thailand, and India.

Shah Yang Razalli, assistant CEO of Gentari and CEO of Gentari Green Mobility, stated:” Mastercard’s skills in modern online payment solutions that generate sustainable and inclusive development aligns with Gentari’s eyesight of leveraging technology to improve efficiency and customer experiences. Through Gentari Go, we provide smooth access to clean energy options – from household thermal to natural freedom, including cross-border EV wandering. We’re excited to look into how we can connect more people and communities as we strive to be the region’s most valuable lover for efficient freedom solutions because of Mastercard’s innovative payment systems and extensive reach.

Click below to continue reading.

Continue Reading

Kyiv is left with few good options and allies in a Trump 2.0 world – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia

At their last meeting of the year, EU leaders were meeting in Brussels with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted his properly managed monthly phone-in and press conference to answers questions from journalists and regular Russians. Unsurprisingly, the war in Ukraine loomed massive at both situations.

But the conflict in Ukraine is only one aspect of a complex, rapidly transforming political environment that neither Russia nor the EU, enable only Ukraine, are able to completely control. Donald Trump, who did re-enter the White House at the end of January 2025, is the main reason for this.

He now has a significant impact on the calculations made by Moscow and Brussels. However, his fervently-focused, if detail-free, plea for the conclusion of the Ukrainian war is viewed with suspicion on the other side of the Atlantic. This is true for both Moscow and Brussels.

On Monday, December 16, the German foreign officials reiterated their unwavering support for Kyiv. Previous German prime minister Kaja Kallas, who is now the EU’s top representative for international affairs and security policy, made the clear claim that there needs to be more military support from Europe. The code would be to make it possible for Ukraine to “hold on” and “turn the balance in their pursuit because Putin won’t stop until he stops,” according to the report.

In a further sign of the EU hardening, rather than softening, its position on Russia, the foreign officials adopted the bloc’s 15th sanctions package. This is one of the most important sanctions to time, which targets 54 people and 30 businesses and places an extra 32 businesses on the blacklist for evading existing sanctions.

On December 18, Zelensky met with NATO secretary standard Mark Rutte, another dialogue skeptical. Like Kallas, he wants to “focus on the business at hand” to ensure that Ukraine has everything Putin needs to keep from winning. Rutte’s words echoe those of António Costa, the new leader of the European Council, who also remarked that the Union must” stand with Ukraine for as long as needed and do whatever it takes” for the Russian invasion to be defeated and international laws to rule.

In the meantime, Putin, during his yearly phone-in, was whole of his usual rhetoric about Russia winning in what he continues to call a” specific military function” in Ukraine. The main goal of this function is to convince regular Russians that things are generally on track to accomplishing Russia’s war goals. Ironically, this is the third time in a row that Putin has praised Russia’s superiority and inevitable victory, which is obviously lost on both the president and his audience.

A committee of the Russian defense ministry meeting on December 16 more reinforced the information that the Kremlin is determined to achieve a military victory. These Putin outlined continued funding into the region’s armed forces, now totalling 6.3 % of GDP.

While he made the point that the Kremlin” may improve this consumption endlessly,” he was also unwavering when he reiterated that” the position, the Soviet people are giving everything they can to the military forces to fulfill the duties we have set.” These things, in Putin’s see, include the battle of” the neo-Nazi government in Kiev, which seized power again in 2014″ and” to push the army out from our territory”.

Officials in Moscow and Brussels seem strangely congruent in their determination to keep fighting, despite whatever kind of agreement Trump does consider, at least in their public statements.

Mounting force

Putin’s justification for doing so is that he firmly believes that the government is in place. His troops only made daily benefits of around 30 square kilometers of Ukrainian place in November. The impact of European authorization to hit targets deep inside Russia has so far been scant. Russia’s latest air battle against Ukraine’s critical national system, however, has caused extraordinary damage.

For the Union, the reasoning is unique. In the event of a peace, let alone a full peace agreement, EU leaders are hesitant to accept Trump as their replacement and are yet to come to terms with reputable safety guarantees for Ukraine. A Trump-brokered package, so, carries too many challenges. The idea of Putin regrouping and rearming after a brief break in the fighting would be the top preoccupation of Western leaders, which would then pose an even greater threat to Western security.

It is hoped that Ukraine’s continued defense of itself against Russian aggression will help the EU and other NATO members avoid the kind of philosophical conflict Ukraine has been having since Russia’s full-scale war in February 2022.

All of this leaves Ukraine vulnerable to both military force from Russia and political force from the incoming Trump administration to reach a package, which includes the loss of roughly 20 % of Russian country that Russia has illegally annexed since 2014. Ukraine’s European allies will also be under political pressure to continue fighting in a conflict that Europe is trying to avoid.

With Trump 2.0 and 2025 in hand, Zelensky has few viable allies and no other viable options. The best thing Ukraine can hope for is passing the time. Trump will need Zelenensky to apologise. Before a ceasefire can be reached, he will need to be open to the idea of negotiations with Russia.

If Europe, in the meantime, gets serious about its own defense, this might finally lead the EU and Kyiv’s European NATO allies to stand on their own feet and provide the continent, including Ukraine, with credible deterrence against Russia.

So far, they have talked the talk. They will need to demonstrate that they can walk the walk in 2025.

The University of Birmingham’s Stefan Wolff is an assistant professor of international security.

The Conversation has republished this article under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Continue Reading

Honda and Nissan merger talks: What’s at stake

By:
On:
In: Asia

Nissan and Japanese automaker Honda will officially begin discussions on a acquisition to increase their standing in the field of electric vehicles, where Chinese brands are vying for supremacy. At the same time, Chinese technology behemoth Foxconn has approached France’s Renault to get its huge interest in Nissan, according toContinue Reading

Singapore interior construction firms penalised S million for rigging bids

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

Both attempted to defend their actions by claiming that if they refused to participate in a sweet, they ran the risk of being exempt from upcoming bids. &nbsp,

But, CCCS found that the reason did not hold liquid. &nbsp, &nbsp,

According to CCCS,” the ( firms ‘ ) collusive conduct effectively reduced the number of shortlisted tenderers genuinely competing and gave customers the false appearance of competition for their tenders.” &nbsp,

The organization made it clear that only 44 organizations registered with the Building Construction Authority was submit bids for high-value government initiatives, including Flex Connect, which was formerly known as Facility Link and Tarkus Interior. These projects offer unmatched delicate value for interior finishing and decor projects. &nbsp,

Studies into the businesses ‘ behavior began in November 2020, following a tip-off from a member of the public. Copy of WhatsApp messages were also found in the electronic evidence seized during a raid at the company’s corporate headquarters.

The probe&nbsp, Studies exposed “numerous situations” of diminishing perform, including agreements that destroyed competition laws. &nbsp,

According to the Competition Act of 2004, contracts that stop, limit, or alter rivals within Singapore are prohibited unless they are exempted by law. &nbsp,

On May 23 this month, CCCS issued a proposed copyright selection to the two companies as part of the legal procedure under the Act. A written see that summarizes the CCCS’ choice is the proposed copyright choice. Before CCCS decides whether there has been an copyright, it gives the parties involved a chance to argue. &nbsp,

Before CCCS made its last decision, each business submitted written images. &nbsp,

In making a decision, CCCS considered each business ‘ related turnover, the nature and severity of their vulnerabilities, as well as the aggravating and mitigating aspects. &nbsp,

Flex Connect had requested and received mercy during its first studies, and the CCCS reduced its monetary charges. &nbsp,

When businesses or individuals who are a part of a syndicate agreement or concerted practice come forth to CCCS with info on their cartel activities, the CCCS said its leniency program gives them liberal treatment. These organizations may be subject to a whole exemption or had their financial penalties reduced. &nbsp,

The two organizations have until Feb 20, 2025, to give their individual penalities. Additionally, they have two weeks to file an appeal against the ruling.

CCCS ‘ chief executive Alvin Koh said that pay rigging was a” major copyright” of Singapore’s competition rules that harms both businesses and consumers. According to Mr. Koh, this conduct distorts the competitive bidding process, raises rates, and prevents customers from receiving the best possible price for their bids. &nbsp, &nbsp,

” Ultimately, the Singapore consumer and society pays. If we discover that tenderers are colluding or taking part in any anti-competitive conversations, CCCS did take firm action to ensure our businesses function.

“CCCS advises any firms considering entering into anti-competitive agreements to quickly turn down these discussions and publicly distance itself from them.”

Those who wish to provide information on gang activities you write, message, or visit the CCCS helpline at 1800 325 8282. &nbsp,

Continue Reading

Proposed Honda-Nissan merger could change auto industry landscape – Asia Times

By:
On:
In: Asia, Business, Technology

Honda and Nissan are expected to begin negotiations on a consolidation next year, which will mark a turning point for the Japanese automobile industry. The two organizations, both of which have been overtaken by BYD and which, combined, buy fewer than three-quarters as some vehicles as Toyota, wish to step a healing by combining their technologies and achieving greater economies of scale.

However, the strategy appears to be a tribute to Japan Inc’s reduction of twilight business in the past and a knee-jerk nationalist response to Foxconn’s desire to acquire a stake in Nissan, or even to take over it. Foxconn is the global manufacturer of Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry.

The investment market’s decision came quickly and clearly. The proposed merger was headline news on the morning of Wednesday, December 18, by the time the market closed, Honda’s stock price was down 3 %, while Nissan’s was up 24 %. Put into words, this is a loan: a fortune for Nissan, terrible news for Honda’s owners. The stock price of Renault, which owns 17.0 % of Nissan directly and 18.7 % through a trust, was up 5 %. Hon Hai’s was down 1 %.

Toyota, Tesla, and BYD have all fallen way behind Honda and Nissan, both of whom were market leaders in the past, in the market for electric and hybrid vehicles. According to information for the three weeks to September, BYD is the sixth-largest manufacturer in terms of vehicle sales, trailing only Honda and Ford. Perhaps even more humiliating, Chinese automaker Geely ( which owns Volvo ) overtook Nissan to rank ninth.

Of program, the consolidation is pitched as forth looking. The two businesses will discuss a merger, according to NikkeiAsia, the English-language type of Japan’s major business regularly,” to better engage against Tesla and Chinese electric vehicle makers in a rapidly changing automotive industry.” According to The Financial Times, Nikkei owns the two businesses, “are in exploratory discussions about a merger of the two carmakers that would create a$ 52 billion Japanese behemoth.”

However, the Japanese language Nikkei’s title for Thursday morning read,” Hon Hai order, sense of problems.” Honda, which had begun discussing a” proper relationship” with Nissan next March, said it would withdraw if Nissan tied up with Hon Hai.

Hon Hai is expanding its electric car company, adding pressure to Honda and Nissan. In 2020, it established the Freedom in Harmony ( MIH) Consortium in hopes of becoming the “android structure of the Vehicle business” and” creating a’ software-defined’ available ecosystem for the Vehicle manufacturing business”. Additionally, Hon Hai and Taiwanese manufacturer Yulon work together to create electronic vehicles under their own design.

The MIH Consortium, which develops guide patterns and open requirements, now has more than 2, 700 people, including more than 100 in Japan. Jun Seki, the CEO of Dongfeng Nissan ( Nissan’s joint venture with Dongfeng Motor in China ), the CEO of Japanese automaker Nidec, and most recently, the CEO of Hon Hai’s electric vehicle operations, is the head of the company.

Seki apparently sees possible synergies with Nissan, which launched its founding electric car, the Nissan LEAF, in 2010, and is said to be interested in acquiring Renault’s communicate of Nissan.

Renault has been backing away from its alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, while Honda and Nissan are considering bringing Mitsubishi Motors into a novel, all-Japanese, three-way ally. After cutting back on the production of gasoline-powered cars, this alliance would be no more than 80 % the size of Toyota today, but probably no more than 70 % as large. Despite this, it may conceivably be comparable to the size of the Hyundai Motor Group, which presently leads Toyota and Volkswagen in terms of size.

Note that only three of the world’s top 10 automakers reported year-on-year unit sales increases in the three months to September 2024: BYD ( 38 % ), Geely ( 20 % ) and Ford ( 1 % ). The others reported single-digit declines, except for GM (-13 % ) and Honda (-12 % ). On current trends, BYD perhaps soon beat GM and Stellantis, while Geely catches up with Honda.

Asia Times Chart. Data from motor1.com

Nissan’s overall product sales decreased by only 3 % in the previous quarter, but both sales and prices dropped in China. As a result, the bank’s online income dropped by more than 90 % in the first quarter of this fiscal year, which ends in March 2025. Honda’s online profit was over 20 % in the same time, for the same purpose.

Honda also needs a self-driving car alternative after failing to work with GM on its Cruise robotaxi next week, leaving Honda in the dark. Cruise and GM had a lot in mind when they were planning to visit Tokyo in 2026.

The solution may already be in the works. At the beginning of August, Honda and Nissan announced plans to do joint study into next-generation software-defined cars, autonomous driving and AI, as well as chargers, power paying, and electric car engine and transmission systems (e-axles ). With time, this could lead to self-driving taxis.

Honda intends to follow Toyota and BYD into the passenger car market, where they are already the most popular brand.

Although it is easy to be cynical about these developments, we need to remember that Toyota’s commitment to hybrid vehicles was criticized for years by those who believed pure electric, battery-powered vehicles were the future’s car of the future. They were wrong, and those who are skeptical of the Honda-Nissan merger may also be mistaken. But fighting back against Toyota, Hyundai, BYD, Geely and other aggressive competitors won’t be easy.

Follow this writer on&nbsp, X: @ScottFo83517667

Continue Reading

Malaysian, Thai wife arrested for investment scams

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 19 Dec 2024 at 13: 04

Police arrest a Malaysian man and his Thai wife, whose faces were blurred by police, in Sadao district, Songkhla, on Thursday. (Photo: Central Investigation Bureau)
Police arrest a Malay man and his Thai woman, whose eyes were blurred by officers, in Sadao city, Songkhla, on Thursday. ( Photo: Central Investigation Bureau )

In Songkhla, a Malaysian man and his Thai partner were detained on suspicion of engaging in funding fraud using phony smart applications, causing total damage worth 800 million baht.

The Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ) made the announcement on Thursday that Lim Chin, 38, and his wife Saowalak had been detained while crossing the border from Malaysia to Songkhla’s Sadao district.

Following numerous complaints about funding schemes promoted through Facebook posts featuring pictures of well-known stocks gurus, the border checkpoint in Sadao was set up. Victims were lured into using fake apps named” Nicshare” and” ComonApps”, receiving returns only initially, according to the bureau.

More than 50 patients were identified by the CIB, who apparently lost an estimated 800 million baht in the scams overall.

Other Thais and foreigners were also a part of the purchase con group, and their financial dealings totaled about 5 billion ringgit. The CIB elicited warrants to arrest about 50 suspects connected to the hoax system over the past several months.

The Indonesian suspect was a group leader, according to the report, and he and his spouse facilitated the establishment of businesses that would open animal bank accounts, which were then sold to parties in Southeast Asian countries.

These animal accounts were linked to call fraud centres, online gaming networks and other illegal activities, the CIB said.

Continue Reading

Making art with trash: Japanese firm turns eyeshadow, face powders into paint

By:
On:
In: Asia

Mr. Tanaka now collaborates with 16 beauty companies to purchase unnecessary cosmetics straight from their companies.

” Makeup businesses pay to rid of makeup spend. That spending may become minimised as we, Mangata, pay each skincare firm. This will help us secure sources and allow makeup companies to reduce expenses. It’s a win-win relationship”, he said. &nbsp,

This, according to Mr. Tanaka, lessens concerns about contamination or sanitary standards.

AN ART EVENT WITH UPCYCLED PAINT

Chinese beauty product Kanebo and printing business Toppan recently held a large artwork event in Tokyo earlier this month, where the waste firm’s materials were provided, in response to Mangata’s vision. &nbsp,

At the occurrence, about 10 kilograms of recycled eyeshadow and powders were used. &nbsp,

” To avoid waste, we talked about various ways of waste, such as change into paint, and realised it”, said Kanebo company supervisor Yumi Kizu.

Continue Reading

CNA Explains: Honda-Nissan merger talks – why Japan’s automakers are scrambling to catch Chinese rivals

By:
On:
In: Asia

Why has Japan been slow to embrace electric vehicles?

There are a few aspects. One is the country’s passion for petrol-electric variants. Asian automakers have placed a lot of weight on hybrid cars, and profits there are projected to continue to rise until 2027.

Toyota, a market leader and a force of nature, has been slow to adopt Batteries, and everyone else has followed suit.

Second, Japan has fewer incentives to go fully energy than other nations, despite their green policies that strongly subsidize EVs.

According to a new study by Greenpeace, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are among the least environmentally conscious automakers in the world.

Japan’s GDP is on the verge of a collapse if it doesn’t switch to producing EVs, as auto manufacturing accounts for nearly a fifth of its exports, according to a statement from the Climate Group non-profit. If the automobile sector is in decline, this could also lead to significant job losses.

Asian automakers are now attempting to reclaim their position in the world of electric vehicles by investing more in solid-state batteries that demand more quickly and last longer than those made by China.

In March, Nissan and Honda had previously agreed to study the viability of a proper agreement in making EV vehicles and systems, to cut costs and improve profitability.

Nissan and Honda then announced in August that they would work together to develop self-driving software and introduce an electric vehicle ( EV ) by 2030.

The company’s strategy includes Mitsubishi Motors, of which Nissan is the largest investor and holds a 27 % interest.

The three companies may have a combined monthly production of about 8 million cars.

Though Japan’s automakers have to get up in areas like power prices and vehicles design,” they are not much behind”, said Mr Vivek Vaidya, associate companion at the Frost &amp, Sullivan firm.

” China did not produce the first commercially successful EV. It was manufactured by Nissan- the Nissan Leaf”, he pointed out to CNA’s East Asia Now.

If the consolidation is successful, Nissan will have the financial resources of a bigger mate and be able to “bring in better designs at a cheaper and better rate,” he added. Honda may also have access to a company with an EV and a device. ” This is a win-win situation for both”.

Continue Reading