Writing by admin on Thursday, 28 of May , 2009 at 9:05 pm
Mazda adds new features to RX-8
Monday 25th May, 03:38 PM JST
HIROSHIMA —
Mazda Motor Corp on Monday launched a revamped four-door, four-seat rotary-powered Mazda RX-8 sports car for the Japanese market.
Standard equipment across the entire RX-8 range has been updated with popular features that provide added comfort and convenience. The updates include rain-sensing windshield wipers and Mazda’s auto-light system (which switches the headlights on automatically according to ambient light conditions). Two additional exterior body colors, silver and gray, reflect the RX-8’s high quality and accentuate its exceptional sports car styling.
Retail prices range from 2.63 million yen to 3.180 million yen.
Category: Manufacturers
Writing by admin on Thursday, 28 of May , 2009 at 9:03 pm
Nissan, Europcar team up to sell, lease electric vehicles from 2010
Wednesday 27th May, 02:36 AM JST
TOKYO —
Nissan Motor Co and Europcar Groupe, a European leader in the passenger car and utility vehicle rental business, have agreed to form a partnership to sell and lease electric vehicles beginning next year in a bid to promote zero emission mobility worldwide, officials from the two companies said Tuesday.
Under the partnership, Nissan will sell such vehicles to Europcar, which will then lease the cars to its clients, thus serving a broader reach of customers, a Nissan company official said, adding they have yet to determine whether the electric vehicles to be rolled out will carry the Nissan brand.
© 2009 Kyodo News.
Category: Manufacturers
Writing by admin on Thursday, 28 of May , 2009 at 9:01 pm
102 Japanese parts firms will suffer if GM goes bust
Thursday 28th May, 03:36 PM JST
TOKYO —
There are 102 parts suppliers and other Japanese companies who may not be able to recover accounts receivable from General Motors Corp if the automotive giant files for bankruptcy, a leading credit research agency said Thursday.
Although many of the firms filed applications requesting that the U.S. government guarantee the receivables with a $5 billion Treasury Department program, not all of them qualified for the federal assistance, Teikoku Databank said.
“The potential risk of a bankruptcy filing triggering turbulence (among corporate creditors) is in place,” the research agency warned.
A total of 133 Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Electric Corp, Aisin Seiki Co and Bridgestone Corp, have business ties with GM. Of them, 31 sell GM products or provide maintenance services in Japan.
Kyodo News Service
Category: Manufacturers, News
Writing by admin on Wednesday, 18 of March , 2009 at 4:13 pm
Its no secret there is a recession in Japan. Toyota, Honda and Nissan have recorded major losses in the last quarter of 2008. Lay-offs in the top 3 auto maker’s personel seem to be bucking the once cherished “job-for-life” mentality.
In the heavily industrial prefecture of Aichi, massive lay-offs mean the economic effect of an export-based economy is even more present. According to news sources, Toyota posted a 28% drop in profits from year-on-year earnings. What that means to the region is there are now more people looking for jobs than there are jobs available. Toyota lays off, then their suppliers lay off.
Toyota is still producing some of the world’s best cars, but like every other car maker, it means they have to trim an already trim operation. The “Toyota Way” of trim 10% and then trim another 10% may go far in a healthy economy, but in current economic condition, its hard to trim 10% off a skeleton…
Category: Manufacturers
