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Nikkei: Japan to develop seabed mining of rare earth materials

Green Car Congress

The Nikkei reports that in 2024, Japan will begin to extract rare earth materials for electric vehicles and hybrids from sea bottom mud in an area off Minami-Torishima Island, a coral atoll in the Pacific Ocean about 1,900 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. The government’s aim is to reduce the country’s reliance on China for rare earth metals.

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Nissan, Mitsubishi unveil jointly developed new all-electric mini-vehicles in Japan

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Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors unveiled their first jointly developed light electric vehicles (EVs)—the Sakura and the eK X EV (pronounced “eK cross EV”), —in Japan. Japan, where the vehicle is produced. The line-off ceremony took place at the Mitsubishi Motors’ Mizushima Plant in Kurashiki City, Okayama Pref.,

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Toyota launches C+pod ultra-compact battery electric vehicle in Japan

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In Japan, it is focusing initially on the C+pod, Walking Area BEVs, and Toyota i-Road, with more than 200 corporate and local government partners currently involved in exploring new transportation models.

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Honda and Cruise to start testing program in September toward launch of autonomous vehicle mobility service business in Japan

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Honda will start a testing program for autonomous vehicles in September 2021, taking a step toward an autonomous vehicle mobility service (MaaS) business in Japan, which Honda is planning to launch under collaboration with Cruise and General Motors. a Honda subsidiary for MaaS business, will be the operator of such business in Japan.

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ANA and Joby to establish eVTOL ridesharing service in Japan; Toyota joining for ground integration

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ANA Holdings and Joby Aviation are forming a partnership that will see Japan’s largest airline join with Joby to bring aerial ridesharing services to Japan. Joby already has strong connections with Japan, having worked alongside Toyota since 2019. Joby’s all-electric aircraft performing a flight test near Big Sur, California.

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Nissan introduces all-new Note e-POWER AWD in Japan

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The car comes exclusively with Nissan’s e-POWER electrified powertrain—a non-plug-in series hybrid configuration ( earlier post )—and is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in early 2021. The introduction of the all-wheel-drive model follows last month’s launch of the two-wheel-drive Nissan Note.

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Nissan introducing Serena with 2nd-generation e-POWER system in Japan

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Nissan launched the fully-revamped Serena in Japan. Nissan first introduced a Serena e-POWER model in 2018 ( earlier post )—the second second model with the e-POWER system, which was first introduced in the Nissan Note in Japan in 2016. The system delivers more powerful and smooth acceleration with less engine noise.

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