Toyota to spend $5.3 billion expanding Japan, US battery output

TOKYO - Toyota said it will ramp up the production of batteries for electric vehicles in Japan and the United States through an investment of up to 730 billion yen ($5.3 billion).

Part of the cash is included in a huge two-trillion budget for the development and production of auto batteries that was announced by the Japanese giant in December, a spokesman told AFP.

Automakers are speeding up the transition to electric as pressure grows from governments to move away from cars with combustion engines, and also thanks to the success of Elon Musk's Tesla.

Toyota is the world's top-selling carmaker, and has championed hybrid motors and pioneered hydrogen as a fuel of the future.

But until recently it has been slow to embrace battery-powered electric vehicles, seen as a key to reducing carbon emissions.

"With this investment, Toyota intends to increase its combined battery production capacity in Japan and the United States by up to 40 GWh (Gigawatt Hours)," the company said in a statement.

Toyota said it aims to begin producing cells for battery-powered vehicles in the two countries between 2024 and 2026.

News of Toyota's investment follows US President Joe Biden's signing of his hallmark Inflation Reduction Act earlier this month, which the White House touted as the biggest commitment to mitigating climate change in US history.

"Today's announcement from Toyota is another sign that the president's economic plan is ushering in a new era of American manufacturing and economic competitiveness," said Brian Deese, director of the White House's National Economic Council.

Around 400 billion yen will be spent in Japan and around 325 billion yen in the United States, said the company, which expects a new battery-making plant in North Carolina to come online in 2025.

The announcement comes after Honda unveiled a joint venture on Monday with South Korea's LG Energy Solution to invest $4.4 billion in a new US electric car battery plant.

And last month, Japanese electronics giant and Tesla supplier Panasonic announced its own $4 billion investment to build a new battery factory in the United States for electric vehicles.

Agence France-Presse

Google’s new self-driving cars cruising Silicon Valley roads

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — The latest models of Google’s self-driving cars are now cruising the streets near the Internet company’s Silicon Valley headquarters as an ambitious project to transform the way people get around shifts into its next phase.

This marks the first time that the pod-like, two-seat vehicles have been allowed on public roads since Google unveiled the next generation of its self-driving fleet more than a year ago. The cars had previously been confined to a private track on a former Air Force base located about 120 miles southeast of San Francisco.

Google announced last month that it would begin testing the curious-looking cars last month, but hadn’t specified the timing until Tuesday when it disclosed the vehicles are driving up to 25 miles per hour on the roads around its Mountain View, California, office.

Google had installed its robotic driving technology in Lexus sports utility vehicles and Toyota Priuses during the first few years of testing before developing the smaller prototype. The new models are designed to work without a steering wheel or brake pedal, although the vehicles will be equipped with those features during the initial runs on public roads.

A human will also ride in the cars to take control in emergencies, just as has been the case with the self-driving Lexus vehicles during the past six years.

The debut of the pod-like car will help Google get a better understanding on how well its technology works around other vehicles steered by people.

Last year, Google Inc. told reporters it hoped to have a 100 of the self-driving prototypes in its fleet by now, but the company said it has only built 25 of them so far. All 25 have received permission from California’s Department of Motor Vehicles to drive neighborhood roads.

If all goes well, Google hopes to gain regulatory clearance to remove the steering wheel, brake pedal and emergency driver from the prototype. Company executives have expressed hope that self-driving cars using its technology will be joining the flow of daily traffic by the end of this decade.

The earlier models of Google’s self-driving cars had been involved in 13 minor accidents through more than 1.8 million miles on the roads, according to the company. Google blamed the collisions on other vehicles in every instance except one when the company says one of its own employees was steering.

Motorists who encounter Google’s latest self-driving car while they are in Mountain can share their experience with the company at http://www.google.com/selfdrivingcar/contact/www.google.com/selfdrivingcar/contact/ .

source: technology.inquirer.net

Toyota recalls 6.39 million vehicles worldwide

TOKYO—Toyota on Wednesday recalled 6.39 million vehicles worldwide for five different problems, dealing another blow to the world’s largest automaker whose reputation for quality and safety has been dented in recent years.

Despite record sales and bumper profits, Toyota has been fighting to protect its brand after millions of earlier recalls and in the wake of a $1.2 billion settlement last month to settle US criminal charges.

In October 2012, Toyota announced a global recall of 7.43 million vehicles, including its popular Camry and Corolla models, over a possible fire risk, while in February it recalled 1.9 million of its signature Prius hybrid cars.

On Wednesday, the firm’s Tokyo-listed shares took a hit, falling 3.07 percent to 5,450 yen ($53) by the close.

Toyota announced five separate recalls involving 26 Toyota models, as well as the Pontiac Vibe and the Subaru Trezia.

“Since a few models are involved in more than one recall, the total number of vehicles that will be remedied is 6.39 million,” Toyota said in an e-mail.

Among the problems are a driver’s seat defect, steering column problems, and an engine starter glitch that poses a fire risk, the company said.

The vehicles affected include the Corolla sedan, the RAV4 sport utility vehicle and Yaris subcompact.

Toyota said it had received two reports about fires owing to the starter defect, but added that none of the issues had caused any accidents to its knowledge.

The vehicles, made over the past decade, include 1.08 million in Japan, 2.3 million in North America, about 770,000 in Europe and 62,000 in China, Toyota said.

In March, the Japanese automaker agreed to pay $1.2 billion to settle US criminal charges that it lied to safety regulators and the public as it tried to cover up deadly accelerator defects.

Dozens of deaths were blamed on the problems, which caused vehicles to speed out of control and fail to respond to the brake.

Toyota eventually recalled 12 million vehicles worldwide in 2009 and 2010 at a cost of $2.4 billion as the scandal over sudden, unintended acceleration spread and tarnished its once-stellar reputation.

In reaching the settlement, Toyota admitted that it lied when it insisted in 2009 that it had addressed the “root cause” of the problem by fixing floor mats that could trap the accelerator.

As part of the cover-up, Toyota scrapped plans to fix the “sticky pedal” defect in the United States and instructed employees and its parts supplier not to put anything about the design changes in writing.

The latest recall came as Japan’s Jiji Press news agency said Wednesday that Toyota’s global sales in the fiscal year to March topped 10 million units for the first time.

The company, which declined to comment on the report, kept the title of world’s biggest automaker last year sales of 9.98 million vehicles, outpacing Germany’s Volkswagen and General Motors, and said it expects 2014 to become the first to break the 10 million vehicle sales barrier in a calendar year.

Toyota has tipped a record fiscal year profit after more than doubling its nine-month earnings to $15 billion thanks to the yen’s sharp decline and surging sedan sales.

A weak yen has been a major coup for Japan’s automakers as it boosts their competitiveness overseas and inflates repatriated profits.

source: business.inquirer.net

Toyota recalls 885,000 vehicles to fix water leak risk

WASHINGTON—Toyota said Thursday it was recalling 885,000 vehicles worldwide to fix a problem with air-conditioning equipment that could cause a leak and affect air bags.

Toyota said the recall was for model years 2012 and 2013 of its Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, and Venza vehicles.

The bulk of the recalled vehicles are in the United States—803,000—while 15,000 are in the Middle East and 1,600 in Europe.

The problem is with the air-conditioning condenser unit housing in the vehicles, the Japanese automaker said in a statement.

Water from the housing could leak onto the airbag control module and cause a short circuit, resulting in illumination of the airbag warning light and, in some instances, the air bag “could become disabled or could inadvertently deploy.”

Toyota also said there was also a chance the power steering assist function could become inoperable if a communication line in the airbag control module were damaged.

The company said its dealers will apply sealant and install a cover to the air-conditioning condenser unit housing seam on the recalled vehicles.

source: business.inquirer.net

Toyota to recall 209,000 cars in US—report

TOKYO—Toyota Motor will recall 209,000 sport utility vehicles it has sold in the United States due to a possible seat-belt fault, Kyodo News reported on Saturday.

FJ Cruiser models made between 2007 and 2013 will be recalled, Kyodo said, quoting company officials.

The seat-belt retractors for the driver and front passenger positions, mounted in the rear doors of the vehicle, might become detached due to repeated opening and closing of the rear doors, it said.


There have been no reports of accidents or injuries related to the recall, according to the officials.

Immediate confirmation of the report was not available.

source: business.inquirer.net

Toyota Fortuner Shifts To Overtake

MANILA, Philippines — To most consumers, choosing a seven-seater SUV for their family hardly seems like it affects anyone other than themselves. Yet to those behind the manufacture of these vehicles, each unit sold is another notch toward domination. For some years now, this fairly new segment has been the battleground for car manufacturers new and old. In the past few years, the battle has been heating up. Back in 2005, with the arrival of the Fortuner, Toyota had taken an early lead. Yet players like Isuzu’s Alterra and Ford’s Everest certainly haven’t made it easy.

When the Mitsubishi Montero Sport arrived, that lead had slowly been eaten up. After all, the Montero Sport’s leg up on the Fortuner was its more comfortable ride and affordable price. It’s the one vehicle to be credited for Mitsubishi’s return to the number two spot in the country. Rumors flying about Mitsubishi producing an even more affordable Montero Sport variant make it seem like the diamond brand could be at it for a while.

Yet Toyota’s not one to take this kind of challenge sitting down. Their Fortuner is back with a vengeance and a recent test drive reminds us why it’s still a top contender.

For some time, the Fortuner had been the gold standard in the seven-seater SUV category. It had a reasonable size, fit seven people easily and blended modern and rugged design cues seamlessly. It only had one kink in its armor — the ride. A mid-life refresh in 2009 gave it a more butch look but had hardly addressed the complaint. Finally, the prayers have been heard and for its 2012 model, the Fortuner seems poised to take back the crown.

Before we get into the ride, another crowd drawer is the Fortuner’s new look. For this model year, it’s clear its more upscale siblings at Lexus have had some influence. Upward tapering headlamps with clear projector and halogen beams have now been installed. A crown-shaped grille adds some dimension to the façade. Lower in the front, a strip that houses the lower intake and fog lights have been blacked out for a more street tuner look.

Over in the rear, clear jewel effect tail lamps draw the eyes. A chrome plate garnish with Fortuner embossed stretches in between them. The rear bumper juts out more subtly while a race car-derived diffuser sits in between the reflectors.

Inside, much of the dashboard remains the same, however connections for iPods and other portable music players have now been integrated better.

Of course, the real change many have been anticipating with the Fortuner is the ride. Toyota took great pains to improving this adjusting everything from the suspension (dampers and springs) to the seats to return a softer ride more without being too lumbering.

Paired with this particular variant’s 2.7 liter gas engine and 4-speed automatic, it makes for a truly smooth drive around town.

For some time, I’ve had a hard time understanding why some buyers have opted for the gas variant over the diesel yet this Fortuner demonstrates why. Contrary to popular belief, fuel mileage isn’t that bad as the 2.7 gasoline engine managed to return a respectable 7-8 km/L in the city and an even higher 10-11 km/L in the highway.

In city traffic, engine pickup was quick and smooth, quickly closing gaps in traffic without that unnerving jerk that torquey diesels provide. Gear changes felt nearly seamless.

In the highway, the vehicle felt in its element, easily accelerating to overtake, quickly and smoothly, without that wait and surprising burst of acceleration that turbos usually return.

On the city’s rough streets, the ride was a lot softer. The good news is that this improvement hadn’t come at the cost of handling either as the Fortuner could still take on tight city corners, short dashes to catch stoplights and even the sweeping turns of C5 with little worry of body roll.

Off the pavement and on rocky parking lots, the ride was certainly much smoother. The only noise seemed to come from the folded 3rd row seats that I hadn’t secured that well. All told, my few days with the Fortuner served as an excellent reminder of how this single variant ignited the segment way back in 2005 and produced waiting lists only Ferrari buyers would typically tolerate.

The gas Fortuner is one smooth operator and, now with its more pliant ride, is easily the smoothest driving and riding SUV in its category.

As for the fierce battle for the seven-seater SUV top spot, it still rages on. Yet with contenders like these constantly striving to improve their products, it’s the consumer that emerges a winner in the end, no matter which side they choose.

Engine: 2.7 liter 4-cylinder DOHC 16 valve VVT-i

Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive

Max power: 160 ps / 241 Nm

Transmission: 4-speed A/T

Seating: 7 passengers

Brakes: Front discs and rear drum

Suspension: Double wishbones front with coil springs and stabilizers and 4-link coil spring rear

Wheels & tire: 17-inch alloy on 265 65 series tires

Price: P1,343,000

source: mb.com.ph

Toyota Q3 jumps, raises FY outlook on cost cuts, incentives

TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. reported a stronger-than-expected quarterly operating profit, shrugging off a firm yen and the damaging impact of flooding in Thailand, and raised its annual forecast, helped by cost cuts and Japanese government subsidies.

Widespread floods in Thailand late last year battered Toyota just as it was recovering from production lost to the earthquake in Japan in March. The floods cost Toyota 240,000 vehicles in lost output worldwide, dragging 2011 global sales down by 6 percent and allowing General Motors Co. and Volkswagen AG to overtake it in global vehicle sales.

The yen's prolonged strength is also weighing on Toyota, which last year built 2.76 million cars in Japan, one third of Japan's total vehicle production. It exported 57 percent of that output, much of it at a loss.

Toyota raised its forecast for operating profit — earnings from its core operations — for the year to end-March to ¥270 billion ($3.52 billion) from a previous ¥200 billion. Consensus forecasts from 23 analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are for ¥330.8 billion.

The company, which has a market value of $135 billion — more than rivals Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Suzuki Motor Corp. combined — now sees annual net profit, which includes earnings made in China, of ¥200 billion, up from the ¥180 billion it projected in early December, before Tokyo announced fresh consumer incentives to buy fuel-efficient cars.

Toyota should benefit significantly from the re-instatement of cash-for-clunkers subsidies and the extension of tax incentives on fuel-efficient cars, especially on hybrids and other cars that use new technologies. Its newest Aqua hybrid received orders equivalent to 10 times the sales target in its first month.

Toyota has forecast a 21 percent jump in sales this calendar year to a record 9.58 million vehicles, including subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. All its production plants, bar Thailand, are back in action.

"It's premature to talk about any (sales) trends by looking only at our performance from last year when we had all those natural disasters," Toyota president Akio Toyoda told reporters last week. "I would want Toyota to be measured on how we do this year, provided it's a peaceful one."

Yen weighs

October-December operating profit jumped 51.1 percent to ¥149.7 billion ($1.95 billion) from a year earlier, well ahead of the average estimate of a small decline to ¥93.9 billion in a poll of nine analysts by Reuters.

Quarterly net profit slipped 13.5 percent to ¥80.9 billion.

Last week, Honda said its profits fell sharply, hit in part by a ¥6 fall in the dollar for the quarter. Nissan, Japan's No.2 automaker, reports on Wednesday.

With the dollar trading at ¥76-¥77, Toyota's Achilles' heel remains its heavy exposure to Japan. It is scrambling to make its domestic factories more efficient to keep its promise of building at least 3 million vehicles a year at home.

A plan to return its Japan-based parent operations to break-even assumes a dollar rate of ¥85. — Reuters

source: gmanetwork.com