Latest news with #Japan-made
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
China set to dominate Aussie vehicle import market
More than two in every five new cars sold in Australia will be made in China within a decade in one of the biggest shake-ups in the automotive industry in years. The move, fuelled by motorists switching to low-emission vehicles, is expected to challenge the dominance of car brands manufactured in Japan and Thailand. But automotive dealers have questioned whether the move will be wholly positive for motorists, or whether greater protections will be needed to ensure the availability of vehicle parts and servicing. The Centre for International Economics released the findings on Tuesday, in an analysis prepared for the Australian Automotive Dealer Association. The report found almost half (43 per cent) of vehicles imported to Australia could be made in China by 2035, dwarfing current leader Japan on 22 per cent, and Thailand with 11 per cent of the market. Japan-made vehicles represented 30 per cent of new cars sold in Australia this year, while Chinese vehicles made up 16 per cent, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. The swap to Chinese vehicles will be driven by consumers' rising demand for hybrid and electric options, the report found, and falling prices offered by Chinese brands. The change was already prevalent in the Australian market, association chief executive James Voortman said, thanks to an influx of Chinese brands and models. "Australia is at an inflection point where we are going to see exponential growth of sales and new brands from China," he said. "This growth comes on top of the change to electric vehicle drive trains." Chinese electric vehicle brands already established in the country include Xpeng, Zeekr, Geely, MG and BYD, which celebrated its 60,000th local sale earlier in July. BYD considered Australia a "key market," president Wang Chuanfu said, as it was well established and highly competitive. "Success here is a signal to the world that BYD vehicles can meet and exceed the expectations of mature markets," he said. But Mr Voortman, who addressed the association's convention in Brisbane on Tuesday, said introducing so many brands to Australia should raise questions about whether consumer guarantees went far enough. "This rate of growth can have unintended implications to consumer protections such as the supply of parts, wait times to service vehicles, and the long-term ability of manufacturers to guarantee their consumer warranties," he said. "We will be talking to government about what consumer protections are adequate and appropriate." Vehicle purchases are covered by consumer guarantee rights, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, including the provision of spare parts and repairs for a reasonable time after purchase. More than two in every five new cars sold in Australia will be made in China within a decade in one of the biggest shake-ups in the automotive industry in years. The move, fuelled by motorists switching to low-emission vehicles, is expected to challenge the dominance of car brands manufactured in Japan and Thailand. But automotive dealers have questioned whether the move will be wholly positive for motorists, or whether greater protections will be needed to ensure the availability of vehicle parts and servicing. The Centre for International Economics released the findings on Tuesday, in an analysis prepared for the Australian Automotive Dealer Association. The report found almost half (43 per cent) of vehicles imported to Australia could be made in China by 2035, dwarfing current leader Japan on 22 per cent, and Thailand with 11 per cent of the market. Japan-made vehicles represented 30 per cent of new cars sold in Australia this year, while Chinese vehicles made up 16 per cent, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. The swap to Chinese vehicles will be driven by consumers' rising demand for hybrid and electric options, the report found, and falling prices offered by Chinese brands. The change was already prevalent in the Australian market, association chief executive James Voortman said, thanks to an influx of Chinese brands and models. "Australia is at an inflection point where we are going to see exponential growth of sales and new brands from China," he said. "This growth comes on top of the change to electric vehicle drive trains." Chinese electric vehicle brands already established in the country include Xpeng, Zeekr, Geely, MG and BYD, which celebrated its 60,000th local sale earlier in July. BYD considered Australia a "key market," president Wang Chuanfu said, as it was well established and highly competitive. "Success here is a signal to the world that BYD vehicles can meet and exceed the expectations of mature markets," he said. But Mr Voortman, who addressed the association's convention in Brisbane on Tuesday, said introducing so many brands to Australia should raise questions about whether consumer guarantees went far enough. "This rate of growth can have unintended implications to consumer protections such as the supply of parts, wait times to service vehicles, and the long-term ability of manufacturers to guarantee their consumer warranties," he said. "We will be talking to government about what consumer protections are adequate and appropriate." Vehicle purchases are covered by consumer guarantee rights, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, including the provision of spare parts and repairs for a reasonable time after purchase. More than two in every five new cars sold in Australia will be made in China within a decade in one of the biggest shake-ups in the automotive industry in years. The move, fuelled by motorists switching to low-emission vehicles, is expected to challenge the dominance of car brands manufactured in Japan and Thailand. But automotive dealers have questioned whether the move will be wholly positive for motorists, or whether greater protections will be needed to ensure the availability of vehicle parts and servicing. The Centre for International Economics released the findings on Tuesday, in an analysis prepared for the Australian Automotive Dealer Association. The report found almost half (43 per cent) of vehicles imported to Australia could be made in China by 2035, dwarfing current leader Japan on 22 per cent, and Thailand with 11 per cent of the market. Japan-made vehicles represented 30 per cent of new cars sold in Australia this year, while Chinese vehicles made up 16 per cent, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. The swap to Chinese vehicles will be driven by consumers' rising demand for hybrid and electric options, the report found, and falling prices offered by Chinese brands. The change was already prevalent in the Australian market, association chief executive James Voortman said, thanks to an influx of Chinese brands and models. "Australia is at an inflection point where we are going to see exponential growth of sales and new brands from China," he said. "This growth comes on top of the change to electric vehicle drive trains." Chinese electric vehicle brands already established in the country include Xpeng, Zeekr, Geely, MG and BYD, which celebrated its 60,000th local sale earlier in July. BYD considered Australia a "key market," president Wang Chuanfu said, as it was well established and highly competitive. "Success here is a signal to the world that BYD vehicles can meet and exceed the expectations of mature markets," he said. But Mr Voortman, who addressed the association's convention in Brisbane on Tuesday, said introducing so many brands to Australia should raise questions about whether consumer guarantees went far enough. "This rate of growth can have unintended implications to consumer protections such as the supply of parts, wait times to service vehicles, and the long-term ability of manufacturers to guarantee their consumer warranties," he said. "We will be talking to government about what consumer protections are adequate and appropriate." Vehicle purchases are covered by consumer guarantee rights, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, including the provision of spare parts and repairs for a reasonable time after purchase. More than two in every five new cars sold in Australia will be made in China within a decade in one of the biggest shake-ups in the automotive industry in years. The move, fuelled by motorists switching to low-emission vehicles, is expected to challenge the dominance of car brands manufactured in Japan and Thailand. But automotive dealers have questioned whether the move will be wholly positive for motorists, or whether greater protections will be needed to ensure the availability of vehicle parts and servicing. The Centre for International Economics released the findings on Tuesday, in an analysis prepared for the Australian Automotive Dealer Association. The report found almost half (43 per cent) of vehicles imported to Australia could be made in China by 2035, dwarfing current leader Japan on 22 per cent, and Thailand with 11 per cent of the market. Japan-made vehicles represented 30 per cent of new cars sold in Australia this year, while Chinese vehicles made up 16 per cent, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. The swap to Chinese vehicles will be driven by consumers' rising demand for hybrid and electric options, the report found, and falling prices offered by Chinese brands. The change was already prevalent in the Australian market, association chief executive James Voortman said, thanks to an influx of Chinese brands and models. "Australia is at an inflection point where we are going to see exponential growth of sales and new brands from China," he said. "This growth comes on top of the change to electric vehicle drive trains." Chinese electric vehicle brands already established in the country include Xpeng, Zeekr, Geely, MG and BYD, which celebrated its 60,000th local sale earlier in July. BYD considered Australia a "key market," president Wang Chuanfu said, as it was well established and highly competitive. "Success here is a signal to the world that BYD vehicles can meet and exceed the expectations of mature markets," he said. But Mr Voortman, who addressed the association's convention in Brisbane on Tuesday, said introducing so many brands to Australia should raise questions about whether consumer guarantees went far enough. "This rate of growth can have unintended implications to consumer protections such as the supply of parts, wait times to service vehicles, and the long-term ability of manufacturers to guarantee their consumer warranties," he said. "We will be talking to government about what consumer protections are adequate and appropriate." Vehicle purchases are covered by consumer guarantee rights, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, including the provision of spare parts and repairs for a reasonable time after purchase.
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
China set to dominate Aussie vehicle import market
More than two in every five new cars sold in Australia will be made in China within a decade in one of the biggest shake-ups in the automotive industry in years. The move, fuelled by motorists switching to low-emission vehicles, is expected to challenge the dominance of car brands manufactured in Japan and Thailand. But automotive dealers have questioned whether the move will be wholly positive for motorists, or whether greater protections will be needed to ensure the availability of vehicle parts and servicing. The Centre for International Economics released the findings on Tuesday, in an analysis prepared for the Australian Automotive Dealer Association. The report found almost half (43 per cent) of vehicles imported to Australia could be made in China by 2035, dwarfing current leader Japan on 22 per cent, and Thailand with 11 per cent of the market. Japan-made vehicles represented 30 per cent of new cars sold in Australia this year, while Chinese vehicles made up 16 per cent, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. The swap to Chinese vehicles will be driven by consumers' rising demand for hybrid and electric options, the report found, and falling prices offered by Chinese brands. The change was already prevalent in the Australian market, association chief executive James Voortman said, thanks to an influx of Chinese brands and models. "Australia is at an inflection point where we are going to see exponential growth of sales and new brands from China," he said. "This growth comes on top of the change to electric vehicle drive trains." Chinese electric vehicle brands already established in the country include Xpeng, Zeekr, Geely, MG and BYD, which celebrated its 60,000th local sale earlier in July. BYD considered Australia a "key market," president Wang Chuanfu said, as it was well established and highly competitive. "Success here is a signal to the world that BYD vehicles can meet and exceed the expectations of mature markets," he said. But Mr Voortman, who addressed the association's convention in Brisbane on Tuesday, said introducing so many brands to Australia should raise questions about whether consumer guarantees went far enough. "This rate of growth can have unintended implications to consumer protections such as the supply of parts, wait times to service vehicles, and the long-term ability of manufacturers to guarantee their consumer warranties," he said. "We will be talking to government about what consumer protections are adequate and appropriate." Vehicle purchases are covered by consumer guarantee rights, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, including the provision of spare parts and repairs for a reasonable time after purchase.
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Mainichi
Japan industry, academia team up to build hulking rescue robots
KYOTO (Kyodo) -- Japanese electronics maker Murata Manufacturing Co., Waseda University and two other companies teamed up to develop humanoid search and rescue robots as part of a wider effort to revive Japan's formerly world-leading robotics sector. The four entities, including Kyoto-based robot maker Tmsuk Co. and technology service company Sre Holdings Corp. in Tokyo, said in late June that they plan to develop a robot with all Japan-made components, such as sensors and precision instruments. The robot is designed to stand 3 meters tall, weigh 300 kilograms, walk at around 5 kilometers per hour and lift 100 kg or more. Given its demographic challenges, the companies believe disaster-prone Japan needs to develop such rescue robots. "We want to build a robot that is much stronger than a human and can move rubble," Tmsuk Chairman Yoichi Takamoto said at a press conference in late June. Japan was once a global leader in humanoid robotics, with Waseda University having developed the world's first full-scale bipedal robot, WABOT-1, in 1973. Honda Motor Co. led humanoid robotics technology with ASIMO, whose final model was released in 2011. Hoping to play catch-up with U.S. and Chinese manufacturers, the four partners aim to develop a pilot model by the end of 2026 and a mass-production version by March 2029, they said. "There are many technologies in Japan that we can be proud of," Tomotsugu Oba, a manager at Murata Manufacturing's Mobility Robotics Business Development Section, said at the press conference. Oba said the project is Japan's "first step toward the goal of returning to the global (stage)." There are no humanoid robots anywhere in the world that have been developed to replace humans in search and rescue operations, they said.
Asahi Shimbun
26-06-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Kyoto brewer creates sake using only rice from overseas
Yuichiro Mase shows bottles of sake brewed exclusively with rice cultured outside Japan on April 28 in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward. (Yoko Hibino) A leading sake brewer has produced the traditional Japanese beverage using only foreign-harvested rice in time for the Osaka Kansai Expo. The project of Gekkeikan Sake Co., headquartered in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward, started in 2021 under the slogan 'brewing world-class sake with rice worldwide.' It was proposed and carried out primarily by younger employees in their 20s and 30s who hoped to produce sake in a sustainable and admirable way. Attempts to produce sake using only rice cultured outside Japan are extremely rare, according to Gekkeikan's public relations department. Yuichiro Mase, 33, a sub-leader of the research team who is part of the brewer's international trade division, said he grew up in a home near a sake brewery in the southern part of Osaka Prefecture. After majoring in marketing at college, Mase joined Gekkeikan because he believed that promoting sake in various nations abroad might inspire young consumers in Japan to re-evaluate sake. Behind his decision was the increasingly harsh environment surrounding the sake brewing community. Younger generations of consumers generally drink less than their older counterparts, which has led to decreasing sales of alcoholic products, including sake. In addition, global warming has reduced rice harvests for sake brewing, shifted ingredient production areas, and fueled a surge in rice prices. Gekkeikan came up with the idea of using rice reaped outside Japan when it was deliberating how to maintain its sake business. The company went through a trial-and-error process to create the main 'koji-mai' rice that promotes 'koji' mold proliferation. Rice varieties from Africa, Asia, North and South America and Italy were used in the experiments. Unlike Japan-made rice species, the foreign grains made the ingredient fermentation process 'unpredictable.' After close monitoring, the team realized distinctive flavors from the challenging phase. 'We finally completed the intriguing sake,' Mase recalled. 'Their aromas are completely different from products brewed with domestically harvested rice.' One of the brews takes advantage of Vietnamese kake-mai and Thai koji-mai. Once chilled, the sake gives off a characteristic pineapple-like fragrance. Another new rice wine variant, based on kake-mai from India and koji-mai cultivated in Thailand, features an aroma that spreads across the mouth when sipped, evoking a taste reminiscent of freshly baked baguettes or popcorn. 'These bottles are all marked by one-of-a-kind flavors distinguished from those of sake brewed from Japan-made rice,' Mase said. 'I would be delighted if consumers see firsthand that delicious sake can be created even with rice species grown in other countries.' The foreign rice sake products come in palm-sized 180-milliliter bottles with screw caps. The special brews are available at official souvenir shop Maruzen Junkudo near the east gate of the Osaka Kansai Expo for 1,320 yen ($9.10). They have already been sold for 1,100 yen on the brewery's website and at the souvenir store of the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward. For inquiries, contact Gekkeikan's customer service center at (
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Japan to propose cooperation on rare earths in US tariff talks, Nikkei reports
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is planning to propose strengthening cooperation with the United States on rare earth supply chains in upcoming tariff talks, with recent export restrictions by China in mind, the Nikkei business daily reported on Thursday. Japan's Jiji Press also reported that the U.S. had shown flexibility in reducing an additional portion of reciprocal tariffs imposed on Japan. President Donald Trump hit Japan with 24% tariffs on its exports to the U.S., although, as with many of his levies, he paused them until early July to allow time for negotiations. A 10% universal rate remains in place in the meantime. The U.S. has signalled flexibility in lowering the currently suspended additional 14%, Jiji also reported, without citing any sources. Japan's chief tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, is heading to Washington from Thursday for a fifth round of talks with U.S. counterparts, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Japan has been urging the U.S. to review its tariff policies, including the 25% import levies on Japan-made vehicles. Car manufacturing is Japan's biggest industry.
