When KG Motors handed over the first customer MiBots on December 30, 2025, it did more than complete a ceremonial delivery. It quietly placed a fully engineered, road-legal micro-EV into real-world use — and set the stage for a production ramp beginning in April of 2026. In one particular case, … [continued]
Remember the MiBot, that tiny Japanese EV predicted by many EV pundits to be the next spawn of electric mobility in Japan because of its affordable ¥1 million (~$7000) price tag? Well, MiBot manufacturer KG Motors delivered the first completed MiBot units on December 30, 2025, after some delays which … [continued]
Will Nissan Quietly Lead the Path to Autonomous Public Transport in Japan? The question surrounding autonomous mobility in Japan is no longer whether the technology works, but which companies are structuring it in a way that cities, regulators, and passengers can realistically adopt. On that front, Nissan has emerged as … [continued]
Toyota and Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. have begun rolling out battery-electric kei commercial vans in Japan, using a shared platform and powertrain aimed at accelerating electrification in the country’s last-mile logistics sector. Toyota’s contribution comes in the form of the Pixis Van BEV, while Daihatsu will sell its own versions … [continued]
Achieving production efficiency and enhanced supply chain environmental performance through process shortening and material loss reduction NIPPON KINZOKU CO., LTD. (TOKYO: 5491) (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo) has commenced the full-scale deployment of its “Eco-Product” lineup, comprised of products manufactured using its proprietary “Composite Metal Forming Technology,” which is based on the long-cultivated precision profile-rolled products, “Fine … [continued]
While Tesla and BYD (not in that order) dominate EV headlines globally, Japan’s EV sales success for three consecutive years is a tiny 11-foot-long kei car that costs roughly $14,000 after subsidies and offers just 112 miles of range. The Nissan Sakura has become more than a sales success—it’s arguably … [continued]
Yokohama, Japan — Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Wayve today announced the signing of definitive agreements to collaborate on integrating the next-generation ProPILOT series with Wayve AI technology across a broad range of Nissan vehicles. This partnership will combine Wayve’s embodied AI software with Nissan’s advanced driver-assistance systems to support … [continued]
Sodium-ion batteries (SIB) are not just for EVs and home storage. Sodium ion is ideal in rugged environments like farms, and in industry and commerce. Komatsu Japan is partnering with Pret Composites in Neijiang, China, to make 1.5-ton forklifts using Pret’s sodium-ion batteries. Pret plans to invest CNY 800 million … [continued]
TOKYO — After a twelve-year absence, Hyundai Motor Company returned to the Japan Mobility Show with its largest public activation ever mounted in the Japanese market. Rather than competing directly with Toyota, Honda, and Nissan in the hybrid-dominated passenger segment, Hyundai unveiled a dual strategy targeting two distinct niches where … [continued]
When Mitsubishi Corporation walked away from three massive offshore wind projects in August, paying ¥20 billion in penalties rather than proceeding, it sent shockwaves through Japan’s renewable energy sector. For a trading giant to abandon 1.7 gigawatts of capacity — enough to power 1.3 million homes — it signaled something … [continued]
