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Nikkei: popularity of fuel-efficient vehicles lowering demand for gasoline in Japan

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Prices at the pump are falling in Japan not only due to lower crude oil prices, but also because the widespread popularity of fuel-efficient vehicles has lowered demand for gasoline.A Next-generation cars will account for 56% of all automobiles in Japan in fiscal 2030, the agency predicted in a report released in mid-June.

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Panasonic Group confirms it will supply Li-ion batteries for Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

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Given the growing public concern for conserving the environment and escalating oil prices, the demand for rechargeable batteries for eco-friendly vehicles is expected to grow rapidly. This will be the first time for the Panasonic Group to supply its lithium-ion batteries for a mass production plug-in hybrid vehicle. Click to enlarge.

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RAC Foundation: 830,000 households in UK spend at least 27% of their income on running a car; “transport poverty”

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The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) Foundation for Motoring is a transport policy and research organisation which explores the economic, mobility, safety and environmental issues relating to roads and their users. Pre-tax, the UK has some of the cheapest road fuel prices in Europe, according to the OFT.)

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KPMG study identifies 10 sustainability “megaforces” with accelerating impacts on business; imperative of sustainability changing the automotive business radically

Green Car Congress

Sector analysis: Automobiles. The major climate change-related risk for the automobile industry is the potential to be exposed to carbon reduction legislation such as carbon taxes or emissions trading systems which would result in corresponding increases in operating costs, according to the KPMG report.

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Opinion: Stop Blaming OPEC For Low Prices

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Instead it pursued a strategy of fighting for market share, contributing to an immediate rout in oil prices. OPEC is widely expected to continue its current strategy at its next meeting, and as such, no rebound in oil prices is expected, at least not because of the results of the group’s meeting in Vienna.

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CAR releases study on use of bio-based materials in automotive sector; potential for the Great Lakes Region

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Encouraging bio-manufacturing and its associated value chain development, and building upon its current expertise in producing conventional parts for automakers, may position the Great Lakes region at a global competitive advantage as oil prices climb, and the demand for more bio-based parts increases.

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Volkswagen Group invested €11.5B (US$12.9B) in R&D in 2014; ongoing focus on electromobility and digitalization of vehicles

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It may come as a surprise for you, but I highly welcome the interest of Apple, Google and others in the automobile. Winterkorn introduced Future Tracks at the Geneva Show in 2014, saying that over the next few years, the automotive industry will face one of the greatest upheavals since the invention of the automobile. —Prof.

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