Jan 26, 2021
As China pushes the world to avoid official dealings with Taiwan, leaders across the globe are realizing just how dependent they’ve become on the island democracy.
Taiwan, which China regards as a province, is being courted for its capacity to make leading-edge computer chips. That’s mostly down to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest foundry and go-to producer of chips for Apple Inc. smartphones, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
Taiwan’s role in the world economy largely existed below the radar, until it came to recent prominence as the auto industry suffered shortfalls in chips used for everything from parking sensors to reducing emissions. With carmakers including Germany’s Volkswagen AG, Ford Motor Co. of the U.S. and Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. forced to halt production and idle plants, Taiwan’s importance has suddenly become too big to ignore.
Hyundai Motor s hydrogen-powered truck concept Neptune, unveiled at a Chinese import expo in 2019.
Hyundai Motor Co. has signed a contract to build its first overseas hydrogen fuel cell systems plant in China as the South Korean company aims to enter the world’s largest auto market by building its hydrogen vehicles there.
The top Korean automaker said on Jan. 15 that the construction of the plant in China s southern city of Guangzhou will begin in February with a view to completion in the second half of 2022.
Hyundai will own 100% of the plant.
Once completed, the plant will produce 6,500 fuel cell systems for hydrogen-powered vehicles annually and gradually increase output volumes depending on market demand, Hyundai said in a statement.
Toyota expects to get back on growth path in FY22
Nearly 40% of the company’s sales volumes come from products sourced from its alliance partner.
Synopsis
Since June 2019, TKM has sold 46,222 units of premium hatchback Glanza and entry SUV Urban Cruiser - sourced from the Indian subsidiary of partner Suzuki Motor Corp (SMC), Maruti Suzuki.
Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp, which operates in India through a joint venture with the Kirloskar Group, said it expects to be back on the growth path in the upcoming fiscal year.
Naveen Soni, senior vice-president (sales and service) at Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), the joint venture, said, “Last quarter, our wholesale volumes went up by 6%. Retail sales and order taking momentum were even higher, leaving lean year-end inventory with our dealers.
Ford s battery bet says automotive testing will start in 2022
Gabrielle Coppola and David Stringer, Bloomberg News
David Burrows discusses General Motors and Ford VIDEO SIGN OUT
Solid Power, a battery startup backed by Ford Motor Co., said itâs on track to begin testing solid-state batteries for automotive production in early 2022, a signal it eventually could help established car companies compete with Tesla Inc.
The startup, which was spun out of the University of Colorado in 2014, began making battery cells on a pilot line in its Colorado facility during the second quarter of this year. Those first-iteration cells already pack 15 per cent to 20 per cent more power than the lithium-ion batteries used in todayâs electric cars, Chief Executive Officer Doug Campbell said.
Toyota Unveils New Hydrogen Mirai - I Guess The Fuel D jour is Hydrogen
TOKYO December 9, 2020; Reuters reported that Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp put its revamped Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car, with 30% greater range, on sale on Wednesday in a fresh push to promote the zero-emission technology amid rapidly growing demand for electric vehicles, including its own.
Toyota has failed until now to win drivers over to fuel cell vehicles (FCV), which remain a niche technology despite Japanese government backing, amid concerns about a lack of fuelling stations, resale values and the risk of hydrogen explosions.
The new Mirai launch comes after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced a goal in October to cut Japan’s carbon emissions to zero by 2050, in line with a European Union target and ahead of a pledge by Chinese President Xi Jinping to make his country “carbon neutral” by 2060.