Kyocera Corp, based in Kyoto, has announced a plan to build the largest manufacturing facility it has ever operated in Japan, expanding production capacity for semiconductors. The company stated that a primary motivator in the expansion is the growing demand for components for ADAS systems and sensors used in new vehicles.

UD Trucks has signed an agreement with data analytics, storage and security firm, PTC Japan to introduce a new data platform to help improve the efficiency of its production operations. 

Nashville, Tennessee-based subsidiary of Japan’s Bridgestone Corporation, Bridgestone Americas Inc, has made a minority investment in May Mobility, an autonomous vehicle technology firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Bridgestone Corporation, based in Tokyo, Japan, has launched a joint programme to develop chemical recycling technologies that utilise used tyres to achieve high-yield production of isoprene, a raw material used in synthetic rubber production.

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corporation, based in Kawasaki City, Japan, has unveiled the next generation eCanter test vehicle. Prior to the official launch, the test vehicles are destined to undergo a total test distance of over 1 million km, which includes testing in severe hot and cold climates both domestically and abroad.

Sales of commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw fell by almost 15% to 84,410 units in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 98,836 units a year earlier, based on data released the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). 

Japan’s market for light commercial vehicles (between 2.0-4.5 tons gvw) fell by over 13% to 49,514 units in the fourth quarter of 2021, with sales affected by the covid resurgence in the second half of the year and by the resulting global shortages of semi-conductors. Full-year sales were just slightly lower at 230,968 units after a 13% decline to 267,007 units in the previous year.  

December 2021 saw Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (FUSO) of Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, announce it has agreed to collaborate with Tokyo-based Orix Corporation to provide clients of its battery-powered trucks with environmentally-friendly (green) electricity. 

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) of Kawasaki City in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, has upgraded its range of light-, medium- and heavy-duty Fuso trucks for the 2022 season in Taiwan to meet Euro VI emission standards.  

Hino Motors Corporation (a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Company) of Hino-Shi, Japan in early March suspended sales of several medium- and heavy-duty vehicle models in Japan after admitting to falsifying engine performance data to obtain emissions and fuel economy certifications.

Isuzu Motors Ltd, headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, and Hino Trucks Ltd of Hino-shi, Japan, announced at the end of February they plan to begin production of a new battery-powered (BEV) flat-floor route buses in the 2024 financial year, as they look to strengthen their respective efforts towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.  

He takes over from Jorge Rosa, who will remain with MFTE as an external affairs representative.