News from the Tokyo Motor Show

Sanyo Denki considers assembling a battery system for hybrid cars outside Japan.

Sanyo Denki announced a plan to increase production of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid cars.

Fuji Heavy Industries plans to launch a hybrid car in 2012 and market it not only in Japan but also in major countries in the world.

Expertise in Electric Vehicle technology sought ......

Prof. Shimizu of Keio University established a company called SIM-Drive in an effort to spread electric vehicles through cooperation between industry and universities. [TOKYO, SANKEI, ASAHI, MAINICHI]

Keio and Isuzu Universities to produce electric vehicles

Isuzu and KeioUniversity will jointly develop an electric bus. An experimental car will be completed by autumn next year. [TOKYO, SANKEI]

Toyota to produce fuel cell powered vehicle in US by 2015

The President of Toyota who is now visiting the US delivered a speech at a seminar in Michigan and expressed strong expectation towards recovery of the US market. He also said Toyota would start producing fuel cell-powered vehicle in the US by 2015. [TOKYO, SANKEI, NIKKEI, ASAHI]

Will the 'Green Economy' drive us out of recession?

Toyota trimmed its loss forecast for the current business year due to increasing demand for the Prius hybrid car. [TOKYO, NIKKEI, ASAHI, MAINICHI, YOMIURI)

Electric cars are becoming a reality in Japan .....

Lawson, a major convenience store chain, purchased ten electric cars produced by Mitsubishi Motors. It has also installed battery chargers for electric cars at seven stores. [TOKYO, MAINICHI]

Nissan will create hundreds of new jobs with a £200 million investment to build electric batteries.

The investment means the Sunderland plant is a contender to manufacture the group's new "greener" electric vehicles.
The Prime Minister said: "Nissan's investment in a new battery plant and its hope to start producing electric vehicles here in Sunderland is great news for the local economy, creating up to 350 direct jobs and creating and safeguarding hundreds more in the associated supply chain.

The Government said it would support the investment by offering grants and loan guarantees, including support through its Automotive Assistance Programme.

Motorsports Opportunities In Japan Event

Here is the flyer for the event I organised. Speakers include; Nick Fry CEO of Brawn F1, Philip McKenzie of British Embassy Tokyo, Richard Philips MD of Silverstone Race Circuit, David Pickering Director of Transoprt iNet and me. The partners are UKTI, NEL, EMDA, EU and sponsorship was by Transport iNet.

Nick Fry, CEO of Brawn GP F1 team was the key note speaker at Motorsports Opportunities In Japan Event

I organised an event called Motorsports Opportunities in Japan last week. It took place at the Silverstone Innovation Centre and I did it in conjunction with UKTI, Northants Enterprise and Transport iNet. Nick Fry, CEO of Brawn F1 gave a fascinating speach on his experiences of working with Honda, Subaru and Mazda. 40 people attended, and Phil McKenzie from the British Embassy in Tokyo and I were fully booked out all afternoon with 'one to one' sesions. WE have a lot of follow up actions, and are hoping this event is the start point for many UK companies in the Motorsports and HPE sectors to develop business in Japan.