Author: Ryo Suzuki

Toyota Motor has overtaken Nissan Motor to become Japan’s top-selling domestic electric vehicle brand for the first time, following a sharp rise in sales of its updated bZ4X electric SUV in the final quarter of 2025. Domestic electric vehicle sales in Japan increased 1.6% in 2025 to 60,677 units, according to data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, reflecting continued but moderate growth in the market. See also: Japan Plans New EV and PHEV Tax From 2028 as EV Market Evolves Toyota moved into first place among domestic brands in the October–December period after launching a significantly upgraded version of…

Japan Post Capital has invested in Australian autonomous vehicle developer Applied Electric Vehicles Ltd. as part of an effort to advance autonomous logistics and mobility solutions for regional communities in Japan, the companies said. The investment will support the development and potential deployment of Applied EV’s Digital Backbone software platform and its Blanc Robot autonomous vehicle, technologies aimed at addressing labor shortages and improving operational efficiency in logistics and public services. Applied EV’s Digital Backbone platform is designed as a centralized control architecture for Level 4 autonomous driving, enabling software-defined vehicle operations across multiple vehicle types. The system integrates core…

Japanese autonomous driving software developer TIER IV said it has made a strategic investment in Turing Drive, a Taiwan-based startup specialising in autonomous driving systems for low-speed, geofenced environments, as the two companies form a capital and business alliance to expand deployments in the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership will focus on advancing open-source autonomous driving solutions for controlled-use scenarios such as logistics hubs, industrial sites and transport facilities, TIER IV said. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed. See also: TIER IV and HORIBA MIRA Partner to Advance Autonomous Driving Deployment in Europe Turing Drive will leverage Pilot.Auto, TIER…

Lawmakers and government officials from Japan’s ruling coalition are preparing a draft amendment to the country’s tax law that would introduce a new levy on electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), according to a report by Nikkei. The proposed tax would apply to non-commercial EVs and PHEVs starting in May 2028, with proceeds earmarked for road maintenance. The draft has not yet been finalized and must still be debated and approved by Japan’s parliament before it can take effect, Nikkei said. See also: GAC Group to Enter Japan’s EV Market in 2026 With Aion Models The proposal…

British sports car maker Caterham said it will unveil the first functional prototype of its Project V electric sports car at the Tokyo Auto Salon on Jan. 9, 2026, marking a key step toward series production. The prototype, developed with partners Yamaha Motor and battery specialist XING Mobility, is already being used for testing and will be displayed alongside exhibits from both companies. Caterham said the vehicle is undergoing initial powertrain evaluation in Japan, focusing on Yamaha’s electric axle, while parallel work is being carried out on chassis durability. A central focus of the programme is the battery system, which…

GAC Group will enter the Japanese electric vehicle (EV) market next summer, becoming the latest Chinese automaker to target Japan as overseas expansion accelerates, according to a report from Nikkei. The state-owned manufacturer will introduce its Aion brand through distributor M Mobility Japan. GAC plans to secure around 200 orders in 2026 and expand to 2,000 units in 2027, the report said. The company will initially offer two models — the compact Aion UT and the Aion V SUV — priced at 3.3 million yen ($21,190) and 5 million yen respectively. Both models support Japan’s CHAdeMO fast-charging standard. Initial sales…

Nissan and artificial intelligence (AI) company Wayve have signed definitive agreements to collaborate on the integration of Wayve’s AI technology into the next generation of Nissan’s ProPILOT driver-assistance system. The partnership aims to combine Wayve’s embodied AI software, “Wayve AI Driver,” with Nissan’s advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) to support both traditional ADAS functions and point-to-point advanced driving in a broad range of Nissan vehicles. Nissan is the first automaker to commit to deploying Wayve AI systems at scale across various vehicle segments. See also: Nissan to Launch Next-Generation ProPILOT with Wayve AI and LiDAR in Japan by FY27 The automaker…

Tesla is preparing for a significant expansion of its charging infrastructure in Japan, with plans to install more than 1,000 Supercharger stalls across the country by 2027. This infrastructure push aims to capitalize on rapidly accelerating demand for the brand in the Japanese electric vehicle (EV) market. According to a report by Nikkei Asia, Tesla, which currently operates 695 Supercharger stalls at 138 stations, is expected to increase its footprint to between 180 and 200 locations over the next two years. The expansion will extend the Supercharger network’s coverage beyond major metropolitan areas and popular travel corridors. See also: Tesla…