Suzuki selects BYD LFP battery cells for inaugural Japanese mini EV
The procurement decision equips Suzuki's e SKY kei car with a 26 kilowatt-hour pack, intensifying cost competition against…
Haruto Nakamura reports on Japanese automakers and their battery and motor supply chains, including joint ventures outside Japan.
13 briefings
Suzuki launches Japan's cheapest mini EV using BYD batteries
The 2.12 million yen e SKY undercuts domestic rivals and presses Japanese cell makers as lithium iron phosphate chemistry…
Iwatani and Cosmo approve 50 billion yen Chiba hydrogen hub
The joint venture will restore an idled 80-ton daily generator and build a liquefaction unit at Cosmo Oil's refinery, creating an…
Imabari Shipbuilding wins two Aframax tankers from Carlova by 2030
The Greek shipowner reserved delivery slots in late 2029 and 2030, turning to Japanese yard capacity as South Korean builders…
Panasonic Energy opens Osaka battery hub for advanced cells
The 24,500-square-meter Kadoma facility consolidates 500 engineers to cut development lead times by 15% as the supplier prepares…
Panasonic Energy unveils 150 C solid-state prismatic battery
Sample shipments of the heat-resistant cells begin by December, targeting factory machinery and automotive sensors to cut cooling…
Sumitomo Chemical shifts aramid separator lines to Korea as battery thermal rules tighten
The Japanese chemical maker completed the consolidation of its PERVIO coating capacity at subsidiary SSLM in Daegu to supply…
Japan chemical makers expand LiFSI electrolyte salt synthesis for fast-charging EVs
Nippon Shokubai revises its Kitakyushu plant budget to $295 million while scaling output in China to supply thermal-resistant…
Japanese automakers standardize prismatic battery cold tests as EV timelines advance
Shared public labs and automaker test benches expand sub-zero cell protocols to resolve winter range loss ahead of 2027 regional…
Japan certifies $2.4 billion in battery subsidies to lock in solid-state cell capacity
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry approved funding for 12 manufacturing projects by Toyota, Nissan, and Panasonic to…
Imabari and JMU consolidate dry bulk engineering to standardize ammonia dual-fuel vessels
Nihon Shipyard unites yard drafting teams across Western Japan to deliver standardized 200,000-dwt zero-emission bulk carrier…
Japan Separator Makers Accelerate Ceramic-Coated and Solid-State Film Expansion
Asahi Kasei and Toray are retooling production lines toward high-heat ceramic films and solid-electrolyte substrates to secure…
Panasonic Optimizes 4680 Battery Cell Yields at Wakayama Plant in Japan
The Japanese cell manufacturer improves dry electrode coating lines and tabless winding processes to stabilize commercial…