OYAMA, Japan — Japanese premium leader Lexus is rolling out some of its most fetching automotive designs, luxurious amenities and impressive technologies these days. Just consider the rugged good looks of the GX utility vehicle, the regal splendor of the LM people mover and the futuristic steer-by-wire system for updates of the sleek RZ electric
DAIKOJIMACHI, Japan — Brembo, the premium Italian brake-maker known for outfitting Ferrari and Lamborghini, plans to “democratize” high-performance, all-electric brake systems for mass-market brands with a new technology that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence. The new setup, called Sensify, enables precise vehicle control by constantly applying different brake force to each of the four
DETROIT – The Hyundai brand has catapulted ahead of rivals in the U.S. sales rankings in three short years, but North America CEO Jose Muñoz says the company is in “crisis mode” as it ramps up investment to expand its domestic footprint and turbocharge U.S. growth. Speaking Tuesday at the Automotive News Congress, Muñoz said
DETROIT — When the Toyota Prius hybrid compact car debuted some 25 years ago, its breakthrough fuel-sipping gasoline-electric drivetrain shattered industry norms. In doing so, the Prius also proved that Toyota Motor Corp., a company renowned for safe and reliable, but conservative, cars could throw down the gauntlet with revolutionary new technology. Now, Toyota wants
Hydrogen-burning engines are still in development, but they’re certain to take root in the years ahead Spear-heading the push is Toyota, which deployed the technology in a race car in 2021. But this year has seen hydrogen get a boost as Honda, Suzuki and a group of Japanese minicar and motorcycle makers began promoting the
TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. faces a quandary with its venerated Land Cruiser. The long-running nameplate is big, boxy, brawny and popular. The question is how to keep the hulking SUV mean and green through the end of the decade in the age of carbon reduction. As a first step, the 2024 Land Cruiser unveiled
TOKYO — Nissan Motor Co. said it will consider exporting vehicles from China to soak up bloated capacity in a market where rapidly imploding sales are becoming a major headache and a drag on global profits. CEO Makoto Uchida said the carmaker has not yet decided on an export plan or determined a target market
TOKYO – Nissan Motor Co. has agreed to invest up to 600 million euros ($663 million) in Renault’s electric vehicle spinoff Ampere under a finalized deal to restructure the companies’ longstanding alliance. In announcing the rebalanced partnership in a statement on Wednesday, Renault and Nissan said they plan to complete the “definitive agreements” in the fourth
SEOUL, South Korea – When the Kia EV9 arrives in U.S. showrooms this year, the new all-electric three-row crossover will take the South Korean brand into uncharted territory as its new flagship. Kia wants the EV9 to move its image up-market while also reeling in customers from rivals. The strategy seems to be working in
SUSUNO, Japan — Toyota Motor Corp. is coming to grips with Tesla trauma by rekindling its famed manufacturing mojo. Tesla taught the world that low-cost, ultraefficient, outside-the-box production engineering is the secret sauce for making modern electric vehicles. Now the company that invented lean manufacturing is digging deep into its roots to rethink its factories,
