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tokyo The mobility show is highlighting not only cars or the type of fuel they use, from electric to hydrogen, but also different types of future transportation.
Think about amazing robotic chairs like Honda Motor Company’s Uni-One. The Tokyo-based maker of the Accord sedan says it’s all about personal mobility as a means of rapid transportation by 2035. Simply sit on the box-like machine as it rotates silently.
Toyota Motor Corp showed a helicopter-like aircraft with six propellers, which was still in development in collaboration with US aviation company Joby.
Such gadgets, as well as more regular vehicles, are displayed at the show, which runs through November 9 at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition site. It was previewed to the media on Wednesday, before opening to the public on Thursday.
Against a backdrop of fanfare, threat of auto tariffs looms under US President donald trumpRaised from 2.5% to 15%, although an improvement from the 25% initially imposed.
Trump’s tariffs are expected to shave more than 2 trillion yen ($13 billion) from automakers’ annual operating profits, according to recent earnings calculations.
Mazda Motor Corp Chief Executive Masahiro Moro was the worst affected. Japani Automakers said their engineers are developing cars that sense drivers’ emotions, as well as ones that contribute to sustainability by reducing carbon emissions when you drive.
“We believe that the joy of driving has the power to shape the future,” he told reporters.
Nissan Motor Corp. showed a prototype or experimental model of its Sakura electric car, which has a solar-system roof that slides on top to generate electricity when the car is parked, called the “AO-Solar Extender”. The word “ao” means “blue” in Japanese.
Nissan said the message of the model is about adding value to one’s life, as the electricity generated can be used to power other appliances around the home as well as power stations during disasters. According to Nissan, the concept car targets environmentally conscious mothers.
“Japan is at the heart of what we do because we are a Japanese company,” Nissan chief Ivan Espinosa said on the sidelines of the show.
Was in the city earlier this week for talks with the new Prime Minister Sanae TakaichiTrump also met with Japanese business leaders, including Espinosa. According to Espinosa, the exchange of ideas was constructive.
Nissan and Toyota said they are considering importing their US-made models back to Japan as a way to reduce the trade imbalance.
The Japanese government has pledged to buy Fords and invest $550 billion in the US.
Japanese automakers export more than one million autos to the US, while selling 4.4 million vehicles per year in Japan. Only about 16,000 American cars were sold in Japan, a small portion of the Japanese auto market. According to Cox Automotive, Japanese cars make up about 40% of the U.S. market, although most vehicles sold there are made in American plants.
Toyota Chief Executive Koji Sato said customer preferences vary by market and offerings must be tailored to meet different needs.
“We want to be an important part of the American auto industry with a long-term perspective,” he told a small group of reporters.
Toyota has shown off a still-in-development small collapsible electric bicycle called the Land Hopper, which Japan’s top automaker suggests could be packed into the upcoming Land Cruiser FJ, the latest version of the hit recreational vehicle that debuted as the Toyota BJ in 1951.
Sales of the Land Cruiser, a flagship model, have exceeded 12 million in 190 countries and regions. Targeting Japanese off-roaders, the new Land Cruiser FJ will go on sale in Japan next year – with a 2.7-litre (1-gallon) gasoline engine.
Japanese exports to the US have surged in recent months as automakers have tried to beat the tariffs. There is a possibility of crisis next year.
“Automakers will look to increase U.S. production where possible and diversify export destinations to other key markets such as Australia and Canada,” said auto analyst Darcy Bowling. bmi,
“We expect the Japanese auto market to face challenges due to increased U.S. tariffs.”
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