Automotive

The government is attempting to build a framework to enable elderly people and others to use low-speed electric vehicles to go shopping, to the hospital and elsewhere.

Toyota Motor Corp. on Thursday unveiled an electric vehicle especially designed to transport people within the venues of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games next year.

Honda Motor Co. on Thursday revealed a plan to develop ultramini electric vehicles that it hopes will become the go-to mode of transportation for the elderly and other people instead of conventional smaller automobiles.

Mercedes-Benz Japan Co. said Thursday that it will release its first electric vehicle, the EQC, in Japan.

Toyota Motor and its group companies intend to invest 28.3 trillion rupiah ($2 billion) in Indonesia from 2019 to 2023, including spending to launch production of electrified cars, Nikkei has learned.

Toyota Motor will sign on to the Apollo self-driving platform led by Chinese internet search provider Baidu, as Beijing bolsters efforts to commercialize the technology amid a growing rivalry with the U.S., Nikkei has learned.

Five more Japanese automakers look to participate in an effort to develop next-generation transportation services led by Toyota Motor and SoftBank Group, uniting much of the country's auto industry in the pursuit.

The Nissan Motor-Renault alliance has partnered with American autonomous vehicle developer Waymo to explore offering self-driving transportation services in Japan and France.

Uber Technologies aims to put cars equipped with its self-driving technology on the road in Japan in a few years, as it looks to build on its recently announced partnership with Toyota Motor, its affiliated parts supplier Denso, and SoftBank Group.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings will utilize its utility poles to install electric vehicle charging stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area, an innovation that promises to cut the costs and space needed for the next-generation infrastructure.