Business Mar 3, 2023

Japan’s top steelmaker eyes $700 million ‘green steel’ project

Nippon Steel is looking at Australia and Brazil, where high-grade iron ore is accessible along with cheaper electricity than in Japan, for its new plan.

Business Feb 22, 2023

Investors watch Japan’s spring wage talks for clues on BOJ moves

This year, the outcome of annual wage negotiations matters to bond investors, stock traders and anyone, really, with anything at stake in the country.

Business Feb 22, 2023

Sole U.S. rare earth producer will ship to Japan in new deal that skips China

Output from the Mountain Pass mine in California has typically gone to China for processing, with Japanese companies purchasing from there.

Business / Corporate Dec 6, 2022

Nippon Steel and JFE may further boost output of niche steel for electric vehicles

Electrical steels have enhanced magnetic properties and help limit energy loss in EV motors, and are also used in power-generation equipment and mobile phones.

Business / Corporate Nov 21, 2022

Toyota-Panasonic battery venture looking for new coastal site

The company, which formally started operations in 2020, also plans to pare production costs by adopting Toyota’s so-called kaizen process of increasing productivity via tiny improvements.

Business / Corporate Nov 17, 2022

Toyota unveils new Prius, betting hybrids will stick around

The fifth generation of the car, with bigger wheels and a sportier design, offers three different hybrid powertrain options and will go on sale starting this winter.

Business / Corporate Oct 28, 2022

One key, not two, for Toyota customers as chip shortage bites

Toyota, the world's biggest carmaker, will temporarily give new car buyers in Japan just one smart key instead of two as it seeks to ration semiconductors.

Business / Corporate Oct 27, 2022

Japanese Tesla supplier to take on Chinese rivals to tap EV boom

Sumitomo Metal Mining wants to start making materials for a cheaper type of electric vehicle battery that contains no nickel.

Business / Corporate Sep 14, 2022

Honda speeds up electric motorcycle shift to meet carbon neutrality goals

The carmaker, which also has the biggest global market share in motorbikes, set a target to make all of its bikes carbon neutral before the middle of the century.