Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the manufacturer of Subaru automobiles, today announced that its new 2010MY Legacy 2.0D Sport Station Wagon LHD (European specifications) has been awarded the highest possible 5-star safety rating by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP*) in its combined safety performance test. The new stringent system for 2009 evaluates “Adults Occupant Protection”, “Child Occupant Protection”, “Pedestrian Protection” and “Safety Assist”. Subaru vehicles had previously received various awards from other safety assessment tests but this is the first time Subaru is awarded a top 5-star rating from the widely established Euro NCAP.

The new Legacy features a newly developed “cradle engine mounting system” in addition to its unique “ring-shaped reinforcement frame body,” both of which effectively improve collision safety performance. Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) system and the front dual, side and curtain airbags are offered as standard equipment on all models, providing the new Legacy with outstanding all round safety performance.

For Subaru, it is essential to enhance not only “Passive Safety” but also to pursue “Active Safety”. Subaru is committed to offer confidence as well as sheer driving excitement to its customers, leveraged by the combination of its original Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system and Boxer Engine. Subaru believes the achievement of the 5-Sar rating will help increasing the confidence of its customers. Subaru will continue providing peace of mind by further polishing its distinctive technologies.

Euro NCAP test results for Subaru Legacy:

• Adult Occupant Protection; 79 percent (28.512 points of max possible 36)
• Child Occupant Protection; 73 percent (35.804 points of max possible 49)
• Pedestrian Protection; 58 percent (20.878 points of max possible 36)
• Safety Assist; 71 percent (5.000 points of max possible 7)
• Overall weighted score; 73 points

Euro NCAP is an independent agency organized by the transport authorities in European countries. It has awarded the automotive safety rating since 1997.

Source: http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/press/2009/09_08_26e.html

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Toyota has raised its parent-only global production target for 2009 to 5.95 million units, up 150,000 units from its initial forecast in May amid signs of recovery in auto sales due to worldwide stimulus measures, sources said recently in Nagoya.

The automaker has received robust orders for its new Prius and Lexus hybrids thanks to recent government tax breaks and subsidies introduced in Japan for fuel-efficient cars.

In addition to reduction in inventories due to heavy production cuts, auto demand has also been picking up elsewhere due to other support measures worldwide, including the Cash for Clunkers incentive program introduced in America and similar programs in Europe.

Toyota has already notified its key auto parts suppliers of the revised target in view of the number of car orders it has received recently, the sources said. In 2008, Toyota produced 8,21 million units globally.

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2,800 Nissan employees started their first day of work on August 19 at the company’s new headquarters in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai district.

It’s been 41 years since Nissan was last headquartered in Yokohama, the place of its birth. The company plans to sell the building that housed its previous headquarters in Tokyo’s Ginza district. The company also relocated its showroom to the new HQ.

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Tokyo - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc. (TMMAL), which currently builds V6 and V8 engines for Toyota pickup trucks built in North America, will also build four-cylinder engines, starting in the summer of 2011.

This move is intended to meet expected steady demand for vehicles equipped with four-cylinder engines and to increase the autonomy of TMC’s operations in North America.

Specifically, TMMAL will build 2.5-liter and 2.7-liter inline, four-cylinder engines at a pace of approximately 216,000 units annually for use in the “Camry” produced at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. and in the “RAV4″ produced at Toyota Motoring Manufacturing Canada, Inc. TMC subsidiary Bodine Aluminum, Inc. will supply the cylinder heads and engine blocks for the engines. The new production means an additional TMC investment in TMMAL of approximately 147 million U.S. dollars and an additional TMC investment in Bodine Aluminum of approximately 25 million U.S. dollars. It also means approximately 240 new jobs at TMMAL and approximately 60 new jobs at Bodine Aluminum.

TMMAL was established in 2001 as TMC’s first outside-Japan V8 engine plant. After starting production in 2003, it added V6 engines to its lineup in 2005, and, in January 2008, reached a cumulative engine production of 1 million units.

Source: http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/09/0821.html

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Auto sales in India rose 24.7 percent in July from the year before to 185,266 vehicles as stimulus measures, rural demand lower interest rates gave sales a surprise boost, figured released recently in Mumbai showed.
Car sales rose 30.9 percent to 115,067 units, while commercial vehicle sales reversed their long slide, rising 9 percent to 37,624 vehicles. Sales of passenger utility vehicles and vans rose 23.4 percent to 32,575.

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Ford said recently that its future electric cars will “that” to power grids across America, part of an effort to drive interest in alternative energy vehicles.

Ford released details of a two-year collaboration with about a dozen utility companies as well as the Department of Energy on the design of a system that allows car owners to control when they charge vehicles and for how long. Owners can choose to recharge at off-peak times when electricity is cheaper, or when wind, solar or renewable energy is driving the grid.

Ford and the utility companies are testing the system and have logged 75,000 miles on a test fleet. The goal is to have a network in place so drivers can recharge their cars at preset times at home, work or elsewhere. The system aims to develop technical standards so that a car purchased and used in Michigan, can “talk” to an electric grid in New York if the driver moves or travels.

Ford’s first battery electric vehicle, the Transit Connect commercial van, will be available next year. A battery electric Ford Focus compact car will go on sale in 2011.

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Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., an automobile production and sales joint venture of Honda in China, held a ceremony at its automobile production plant in Wuhan, Hubei Province, to celebrate the line-off of the new Spirior, which is scheduled to go on sale next month in China.

Dongfeng Honda has been producing CR-V since April 2004 and Civic since 2006. The company’s sales results have continued strong, with sales of 109,000 units for the first seven months of 2009 (January - July 2009), up 10.5% compared to the same period a year ago. The new Spirior will offer new value of a premium sporty sedan for sedan buyers in China.

Dongfeng Honda’s annual production result for 2008 (January - December 2008) was 165,000 units, up 32.3% compared to 2007, marking the fourth consecutive year of increased production. In July 2009, the company’s cumulative production reached 500,000 units.

To accommodate the new addition of Spirior to its product lineup, Dongfeng Honda expanded annual production capacity of its auto plant in Wuhan from 120,000 units to 200,000 units. With this expansion, Honda’s total annual automobile production capacity in China reaches 610,000 units, including 360,000 units for GuangqiHonda and 50,000 units for Honda Automobile (China), which produces automobiles exclusively for export.

Source: http://world.honda.com/news/2009/c090819Dongfeng-Honda/

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Automakers, supermarket chains, parking lot operators and even home builders in Japan are leading a nationwide rush to install super-fast charging stations for electric cars in anticipation of a boom in the eco-friendly vehicles in Japan. Nissan said the company planned to install a charger or special electric outlet at every one of its sales offices in Japan.

Quick chargers can restore on electric car to about 80% of its capacity in 15 to 30 minutes.
Supermarket chain operator Aeon installed a charger at its store in Koshigaya, Saitama prefecture, in October.

The Metropolitan Expressway Co. has also installed four quick chargers. Since the end of last year, park 24 Co., a parking lot operator, has installed electric outlets at 21 locations in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

All three companies allow drivers to recharge their electric cars for free. In April, home builder Eyeful Home began selling units that have 200-volt outlets already installed in the garage. Plugging into the outlets at night will allow drivers to recharge their electric cars rates apply.

The central &local governments in Japan also offer subsidies for the installation of quick chargers, which cost about 3.5 million yen per unit. Some gasoline companies are also installing quick chargers at their stands on an experimental basis. But if they start to impose a fee, it is expected most drivers would charge their cars at home instead, except in emergencies or on long-haul trips.

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HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation will exhibit freshened CX-7 SUVs with European specifications at the 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show, which will be held from September 15 through 27, 2009.*1 Newly added to the updated CX-7 lineup – and to be exhibited at the Frankfurt Show – is a version powered by Mazda’s MZR-CD 2.2 liter diesel engine mated to a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. SCR systems substantially reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions, which helps the diesel CX-7 to achieve outstanding eco-friendly performance that complies with strict Euro5 emissions regulations. The clean-running diesel CX-7 will be launched in Europe in October 2009, with Australian sales following in November.

Mazda’s SCR system purifies vehicle exhaust gases by spraying AdBlue®*2 aqueous urea directly into the exhaust flow in front of the catalytic converter. Through a chemical reaction, the urea converts approximately 40 percent*3 of nitrous oxides into harmless nitrogen. Previously, the large size of SCR systems limited their use to trucks and buses. By reducing the size and weight of the system components, which include an AdBlue® storage tank fitted under the luggage area, Mazda is the first Japanese automaker to successfully equip a passenger vehicle with an SCR system. Even with the added components, the diesel powered CX-7 offers the same 455 liters of luggage space (VDA approved*4) as gasoline engine models. Additionally, Mazda’s SCR system was designed to minimize consumption of AdBlue®, enabling the clean diesel CX-7 to run for 20,000 kilometers between refills under normal driving conditions.

Source: http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2009/200908/090818a.html

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Mira Cocoa

DAIHATSU MOTOR CO., LTD. (Daihatsu) announced on August 17 the launch in Japan of a new mini passenger vehicle, the Mira Cocoa1.

Mira Cocoa is a mini passenger vehicle that targets women who pursue a fun and laidback lifestyle by selecting products that suit their particular tastes. The vehicle is intended to perfectly meet their needs and to be a trusted partner thanks to a design that makes it fun to drive around and its ease of handling.

The new Mira Cocoa offers the following features:

1. An easy-to-love vehicle design that makes it fun to drive around
   - A friendly, modern style that is easy to love
   - A simple and casual interior that makes the vehicle fun to drive around
   - Rich color variations to subtly express the driver’s personality
2. Improved ease of handling
   - Equipped with outstanding driver-assistance functions that enhance ease of handling
   (First vehicle in Japan2 to be equipped with a rearview mirror that is fitted with a back view monitor3 (equipped with an automatic anti-glare function)
   - A perfect package that combines a roomy cabin space with ease of handling.
3. Outstanding basic performance
   - The latest platform and powertrain provide outstanding driving performance and excellent safety and environmental capabilities.
   - Because the Cocoa meets the Japanese JC08 mode (Cold) test cycle standard for cleaner exhaust emissions, it is eligible for a tax break in Japan under the taxation system to promote environmentally-considerate vehicles (75% tax reduction) and for a subsidy under the subsidy system to promote environmentally-considerate vehicles4.
   1. The name “cocoa” was chosen to express the fact that the car offers passengers the comfortable feeling and relaxed atmosphere that one gets from drinking cocoa
   2. It is the first in Japan as of August 2009 among automobile manufacturers, according to Daihatsu’s research
   3. Equipped in the Cocoa plus G (for the Cocoa X the back view comes in a package as a manufacturer’s option)
   4. In the case of the two-wheel drive vehicles the Cocoa X, the Cocoa Plus X, and the Cocoa Plus G

Monthly sales target for Japan are 3,000 units. Manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (excluding consumption tax) are from 1 million yen to 1.364 million yen.

Source: http://www.daihatsu.com/news/n2009/09081701/index.html

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