MANILA – Sales of Japanese automakers in the Philippines fell by at least 68% in the second quarter of the year due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, with some signs of recovery seen on a monthly basis, according to figures from industry associations released Monday.

Data from the Philippine Chamber of Automobile Manufacturers and the Truck Manufacturers Association showed that large Japanese companies in the country sold 18,046 units.

During the three month period, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. sold the most vehicles with 9,952 units, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with 2,898 units and Suzuki Philippines Inc. 1,793 units.

Nissan Philippines, Inc. sales were 1,191 units, Isuzu Philippines Corp. to 1,141 units, Honda Cars Philippines Inc. to 993 units and Sojitz Fuso Philippines Corp. to 78 units.

Monthly trends suggest some degree of optimism for Japanese automakers in the country, with vehicle sales rising to 4,067 units in May from 100 in April.

posting an increase of 3,967 percent from April to May as sales rose from 100 to 4,067 units.

From May to June, a 241% increase was observed, with sales increasing from 4,067 to 13,879 units.

Taken as a whole, the Philippine auto industry showed signs of recovery from May to June, posting a 225% gain with vehicles sold increasing from 4,788 to 15,578 units.

“This positive growth shows the first signs that consumer demand for new cars is starting to improve, albeit slowly,” said CAMPI President Rommel Guiterrez, adding that the industry may take time to recover, industry sales remaining a challenge.

Guiterrez, who is also vice president of Toyota Motor Philippines Corp., said the company was maximizing digital platforms to promote sales in an effort to adapt to the “new normal.”

The pandemic has caused a slowdown in businesses across the country in recent months due to the large-scale lockdown imposed by the government.

On Monday, authorities recorded 57,006 cases of the disease caused by the new coronavirus, including 1,599 deaths.

Japanese automaker Honda’s global operations have been disrupted by a confirmed cyberattack. In a tweet published on June 8, Honda’s automotive customer service Twitter account said the customer service and financial services networks “are experiencing technical difficulties and are not available.”

On the same day, a security researcher by the Twitter name of “milkream” posted images of a ransomware sample that actively checked Honda’s internal network domains. If the affected domains do not resolve when running the ransomware, it exists without encrypting anything.

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This ransomware is known as SNAKE. Beeping computer managed to contact the ransomware operator who neither denied nor admitted to being behind Honda’s cyberattack. SNAKE operators said they “would not share details of the attack in order to allow the target some denial.”

What is known is that Honda has temporarily shut down some of its production facilities, as well as customer service and financial services operations. In a statement given to the bbc, the automaker said: “Honda can confirm that a cyber attack has taken place on the Honda network.”

Talk to The edge, Honda said there was “no current evidence of loss of personally identifiable information.” This seems to be related to the fact that the attack is a SNAKE attack because, unlike other ransomware operators, it does not appear to exfiltrate data which can then be used as leverage for ransom payments.

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“SNAKE Ransomware was first identified towards the end of 2019 and while the ransomware itself was not very sophisticated,” said Josh Smith, security analyst at Nuspire, “what made it interesting is that it had additional features programmed to force shutdown processes, particularly items involving Industrial Control Systems (ICS) operations.

“It is possible that this attack is related to telecommuting,” said Oz Alashe, CEO of CybSafe. “The coronavirus pandemic has created a large remote workforce that has increased attack surfaces for businesses and increased existing vulnerabilities,” Alashe concluded.

“Honda suffered a cyberattack which affected production operations at some US factories. However, there is currently no evidence of loss of personally identifiable information,” a Honda spokesperson told me in a letter. electronic. “We have resumed production at most of the plants and are currently working to return to production at our auto and engine plants in Ohio.”

– Updated June 10 with a statement from Honda

LONDON: Toyota is Arab’s favorite Japanese car brand, according to the YouGov poll, a result that bodes well for the company’s plans to move from manufacturer to mobility provider in the region.

The poll, which asked MENA residents for their thoughts on a range of issues related to Japan, found that many Arabs associate Japan with car manufacturing, with 56% of respondents citing it as one of the things that ‘they associate with the country the most.

In the GCC, that figure was particularly high, with more respondents associating Japan with car manufacturing than sushi or samurai.

It is possible that when Arabs associate Japan with car manufacturing, they think of one particular brand: Toyota.

After all, when asked to name their favorite Japanese car brand, 35% of those polled chose Toyota, a huge majority over other Japanese manufacturers listed in the poll.

The car brands that were ranked second in the poll, Nissan and Lexus, were each named as favorites by just 14% of those polled, a small number compared to Toyota’s dominance, although Lexus performed remarkably well. in the GCC, with 23% of respondents from that region listing it as their favorite.

Toyota’s strong reputation in the region is also exemplified by YouGov’s 2019 BrandIndex, an authoritative measure of brand perception that tracks brands based on metrics related to brand health, media activity and to the customer experience.

ALSO READ: Arab Consumers Associate Japan with High Quality

Toyota topped the 2019 BrandIndex for automakers in Saudi Arabia, ahead of German rivals Mercedes and BMW. Lexus ranked fourth on the index, ahead of South Korean automaker Hyundai, which placed fifth.

A spokesperson for BrandIndex said, “YouGov BrandIndex data in auto manufacturer sectors in Saudi Arabia for the first nine months of 2019 shows that out of 14 of the 16 metrics we track in BrandIndex, Toyota leads the industry among virtually all demographic segments of the market, including the general population.

Such indicators of Toyota’s strength in the Middle East market bode well for its vision of moving from a car maker to a mobility company.

Highlights of Toyota’s transformation strategy were shared with those from the inaugural Dubai World Congress for Autonomous Transportation on October 15.

The company’s decision to look beyond vehicle manufacturing to broader mobility issues is designed to meet the challenges of the future, from congestion in major cities due to overcrowding to the decline of the rural mobility around the world.

Mandali Khalesi, vice president of automated driving at the Toyota Research Institute for Automated Driving Development, told the conference: “The vehicle is not the goal. The goal is access to mobility. Mobility becomes a right that you have to go from A to B, whatever the mode of transport.

Toyota is taking clear steps to move from a carmaker to a major mobility provider, and its partnership with Al-Futtaim and RTA in Dubai is proof of that.

Given the brand’s support among Arab consumers, Toyota is in a strong position in the Middle East to build on its reputation as an automaker as it seeks to expand into other markets.

By Naomi Tajitsu

TOKYO (Reuters) – As global automakers rush to put long-range electric vehicles on highways amid tighter emissions laws, Japanese rivals are taking a niche approach and turning to less runabouts expensive and pint-sized to make expensive battery technology more accessible.

At the Tokyo auto show which begins on Thursday, Toyota Motor, Nissan and others are expected to show off one- and two-seater electric vehicle (EV) prototypes designed for short distances with limited top speeds.

They are betting that these electric vehicles are best suited for Japan’s narrow streets, cramped parking spaces and rapidly aging society, and that vehicles will eventually spread globally as the elderly population increases. But the jury is still out on whether these vehicles will work overseas.

Japanese strategy contrasts with that of General Motors , Volkswagen and other global players who are focusing on full-size passenger vehicles, including SUVs, to compete with the best-selling Tesla Model 3 EV sedan.

Toyota’s new ultra-compact BEV can accommodate two people and has a top speed of just 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour and a range of 100 kilometers on a single charge. At 2.49 meters in length, it is just over half the size of the Tesla Model 3.

Japan’s largest automaker, which pioneered “green car” technologies with the Prius gasoline hybrid over 20 years ago, has long argued that fully battery-powered electric vehicles were best suited for short. trips due to the high cost of batteries.

He also believes low-emission hybrids and zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, like his second-generation Mirai FCV, work best for long-distance driving.

“It’s difficult to apply the same technology to all driving needs,” said Akihiro Yanaka, head of Toyota’s EV product planning and development department, during a preview of the ultra-BEV. compact, which will be marketed in Japan at the end of 2020.

“So if we can leverage the strengths of battery electric technology in smaller vehicles, we would like to focus on this application first.”

MINICAR OF THE FUTURE

Nissan, Japan’s No. 2 automaker, also offers its new IMk as a futuristic expression of a “kei”, or minicar.

Kei cars, which account for about a third of all Japanese passenger car sales, are low-cost, fuel-efficient vehicles marketed almost exclusively for the domestic market and normally start at around $ 10,000.

Toyota did not provide pricing details for the ultra-compact BEV.

Honda Motor is also pursuing a “smaller is better” strategy with its more expensive Honda e, a small, four-seat battery-electric sedan launched earlier this year.

Honda plans to sell it in Europe and Japan at a starting price of around $ 32,000, which puts it in Tesla’s lineup. Model 3 starting at around $ 39,000.

Japanese automakers aren’t alone in seeing smaller EVs as the short-term solution to the limited and expensive lineup of battery-powered EVs. Small electric vehicles have been present on the global market for around ten years, since Daimler AG The Smart brand has launched an electric battery-powered version of its Fortwo model.

But they are yet to become mainstream in part because of a starting price north of $ 20,000, similar to that of many gas-powered family sedans, and a lack of demand in North America.

NICHE MARKET

Nissan and Toyota are currently planning their small electric vehicle models for the domestic market and are considering the possibility of marketing them overseas in the future, as emissions regulations tighten, particularly in Europe and Germany. China.

While it’s not clear whether these small cars will be able to find traction in, say, the sprawling suburbs and highways of the United States, some industry players believe these mini electric vehicles will help fill a need. of a wider range of mobility products as more people age around the world.

The need for small electric vehicles is already being felt in Japan, which “faces more problems involving the elderly and mobility, due to the rapidly aging population,” said Satoshi Nagashima, Managing Partner of Roland Berger Japan .

The consulting company is exhibiting a compact, remote-controlled, low-speed EV at the Tokyo Motor Show. The car is intended to shuttle passengers around the hotel and site grounds.

“Small vehicles that travel shorter distances at lower speeds are becoming a particular niche here,” Nagashima said, adding that the sector could become the next battleground for automakers and other mobility companies.

(Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu; Editing by David Dolan and Himani Sarkar)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by the auto feed.

Japanese automakers account for 80% market share in Kenya

By Soko Directory Team / Posted on September 24, 2019 | 11:25 a.m.

Although Japanese automakers have assembled vehicles in Kenya for more than three decades, no parts are currently manufactured locally. Instead, they are imported from Japan and then assembled in Kenyan factories.

Fareedh Kana, Managing Director of Honda Nairobi, explains how he wants to change this: “The transfer of skills from Japanese to Kenyan, the importance of that is immense.

Recently on Marketplace Africa, CNN International investigated the international influence of the automotive industry in Kenya. This sector is dominated by Japanese automakers who account for 80 percent of the market share, with Japan now the fifth largest importer of goods in Kenya.

Africa is a key market for Japan and CNN meets Yuika Kubo, director of JETRO Nairobi who describes why the partnership between the two is so important: “Africa is one of the most attractive markets for Japanese companies. , due to the Japanese economy (sic) shrinking as the population shrinks. That is why expansion is very important for Japanese companies.

Kubo points out that the industry still has a lot of potential, speaking to the program of the industry’s likely expansion: “The market in Kenya is still small, but then in 10 to 15 years, even 20 years, we expect be more growth.

To match this, more and more manufacturers are opening local assembly factories across Kenya. Most of the vehicles assembled at these factories are commercial trucks, with commercial vehicles accounting for 80% of new car sales in Kenya.

Isuzu’s factory in Nairobi assembles up to 5,000 vehicles per year, but their president in East Africa, Eisaku Akazawa, explains that this production could be increased: “If the customer requests it, we can assemble it. 10-11,000. If the customer has more demand, I have no problem renovating the production line to make it happen.

If come true, these predictions will translate into benefits for Japanese automakers, Kenyan auto technicians and aspiring car buyers in East Africa.

CNN is also traveling to South Africa to meet Shinkichi Izumi, Managing Director of Nissan South Africa.

Nissan recently announced an investment of $ 215 million to produce pickup trucks at a factory outside of Pretoria, and Izumi tells Marketplace Africa how this will give Nissan the ability to export new models to the African market: “ For Nissan, Africa is the last frontier, we see the potential, our strength is that we have a historically strong footprint in South Africa, so our strategy is to use South African assets for the whole continent.

About the Soko Directory Team

Soko Directory is a digital finance and markets portal that tracks brands, NSE-listed companies, SMEs, and trendsetters in the market ecosystem. Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/SokoDirectory and on Twitter: twitter.com/SokoDirectory

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Since its release, the Tesla Model 3 has generally received positive reviews from professional critics and enthusiasts alike. These reviews help the vehicle greatly, especially since Tesla relies on word of mouth due to the company’s stance against traditional ads. This means that one of the Model 3’s best chances of success is how well it is received by reviewers and owners.

As the Model 3 is about to enter the Japanese market, the vehicle was recently reviewed by automotive critic Hitoshi Sezai of the local automotive publication. Motor-Fan.jp. During his time with the vehicle, the automotive veteran found the Model 3 to be a completely different car than anything currently available on the market today. Sezai’s test unit was a Long Range Model 3 RWD, the first iteration of the vehicle released in the United States. In his review, the car reviewer especially noticed the Model 3’s infotainment display, which contains the vast majority of vehicle functions.

Sezai compared the Model 3’s display experience to his first impressions of the Apple iPad. According to the reviewer, when he first used an iPad, there was something immediately familiar and exciting about the system and the way it freed users from the “Windows mess”. This experience, Sezai noted, resonates with the Model 3, as the vehicle makes drivers feel like they are “in touch with a next-gen car.”

The reviewer also pointed out how the Model 3 is different from other electric vehicles on the market. Using the best-selling Nissan Leaf as an example, Sezai said EVs are typically vehicles in “familiar packaging.” That is, they look like ordinary cars whose motors have been replaced by electric motors. This was not the case with the Model 3, which makes the sedan very exciting to drive. “Model 3 is a different thing. That excitement alone must be worth buying this car, ”wrote the reviewer.

The reviewer admitted it took a while to get to grips with the vehicle’s regenerative braking system (he was much more comfortable with a standard setting), although he noted that the response and the Model 3 acceleration was flawless. According to Sezai, Model 3’s acceleration almost feels like stepping out of an amusement park: quiet and very, very fast.

Most of the comments from car reviewers on the Model 3 mirror those of reviews from enthusiasts who have recently experienced the vehicle. Earlier this month, Japanese EV enthusiasts who were able to test drive the Model 3 praised the vehicle for its new automated features and all-electric performance, which some critics noted as superior to gasoline-powered cars. Tesla, for its part, began its promotional efforts in Japan, displaying the vehicle in several key cities.

The Tesla Model 3 is a top-selling vehicle in the United States, overtaking its competitors in the premium sedan segment such as the BMW M3. Considering the enthusiasm for the vehicle in countries such as Japan and South Korea, it looks like the Model 3 has a good chance of making an impact in the Asian region as well. In South Korea, for example, the Model 3 began to attract large groups of people after it became available in the country, especially after its starting price was lowered to around $ 26,500 when national subsidies and selected locales are included.

Tesla Model 3 Gets Japanese Auto Critic’s Approval: “The excitement alone must be worth having this car”