Important Innovations

  Asahi Kasei's Automotive Initiatives                                                            Source: Asahi Kasei AKXY Concept Car Asahi Kasei, which is a diversified Japanese multinational company, has a new automotive series AKXY.  It represents an untraditional approach to building concept cars that incorporate environmental performance, automotive safety and comfort.  Their AKXY is a moving showcase of highly advanced technologies. The vehicle is autonomous, electrified and a leading-edge example of advanced personal mobility.   And for starters, the company uses engineering resin as a substitute for metal to build the vehicle and lower its weight.  The leather in the car's seats is artificial.  The vehicle's internal communications systems employ a myriad of voice processing technologies.  To put it simply, this may be one of the most technologically advanced vehicles being developed.  As such, it is fascinating and well worth learning about. More Technologies With

  Asahi Kasei's Automotive Initiatives                                                            Source: Asahi Kasei AKXY Concept Car Asahi Kasei, which is a diversified Japanese multinational company, has a new automotive series AKXY.  It represents an untraditional approach to building concept cars that incorporate environmental performance, automotive safety and comfort.  Their AKXY is a moving showcase of highly advanced technologies. The vehicle is autonomous, electrified and a leading-edge example of advanced personal mobility.   And for starters, the company uses engineering resin as a substitute for metal to build the vehicle and lower its weight.  The leather in the car's seats is artificial.  The vehicle's internal communications systems employ a myriad of voice processing technologies.  To put it simply, this may be one of the most technologically advanced vehicles being developed.  As such, it is fascinating and well worth learning about. More Technologies With

Growing Demand for Service Robots Accelerating Use of Robots in Hospitality Industry Labor shortages and rapidly rising costs are accelerating the use of robots in the hospitality industry.  It's an important megatrend in Hong Kong and Japan and a phenomenon that's sweeping worldwide.  A big and growing player is Hong Kong-based Rice Robots. It's cute, stocky cuboid robots serve as bellhops at Hong Kong hotels, deliver snacks to office workers in Japan and deliver coffee and drinks to customers at the Hong Kong Cyberport Innovation Hub. For customers of the Hub's Cafe, the drinks come stored in the cute, compact robot's head.  Customers use a pin sent to their cellphone to access their order.  In the age of Covid, the Rice robots are providing clean and efficient service without an extra layer of human contact, potentially spreading Covid.  That's a key reason that demand for robotic service is accelerating. New Armies of Service Robots There are growing numbers

  Cute, Friendly Robots Are in High, Service Demand                                                                 Source:  Rice Robots Accelerating Use of Robots in Hospitality Industry Labor shortages and rapidly rising costs are accelerating the use of robots in the hospitality industry.  It's an important megatrend in Hong Kong and Japan and a phenomenon that's sweeping worldwide.  A big and growing player is Hong Kong-based Rice Robots. It's cute, stocky cuboid robots, named Rice, serve as bellhops at Hong Kong hotels, deliver snacks to office workers in Japan and deliver coffee and drinks to customers at the Hong Kong Cyberport Innovation Hub. For customers of the Hub's Cafe, the drinks come stored in the cute, compact robot's head.  Customers use a pin sent to their cellphone to access their order.  In the age of Covid, the Rice robots are providing clean and efficient service without an extra layer of human contact, potentially spreading Covid.  That's

  Joint Development, Production & Sales Collaboration                                             Source: BMW & Toyota Hedging Bets & Investments in Hydrogen Vehicles An innovative partnership has just emerged between German luxury car maker BMW and Japan's Toyota to develop, produce and sell hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2025.  They have partnered on vehicles before like the BMW Z4 and the Toyota Supra sports car, but the scope of this collaboration is unprecedented.  It brings the smarts and expertise of two automotive behemoths together to create next generation, zero emissions hydrogen vehicles.  Hydrogen vehicles use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity to fuel the vehicles. Hydrogen's Advantages Toyota in particular has depth of experience in developing hydrogen vehicles like the now 8-year-old Toyota Mirai hydrogen sedan. BMW recently introduced its next generation vehicle platform - Neue Klasse - that will be designed for building hydrogen vehicles as

  Joint Development, Production & Sales Collaboration                                             Source: BMW & Toyota Hedging Bets & Investments in Hydrogen Vehicles An innovative partnership has just emerged between German luxury car maker BMW and Japan's Toyota to develop, produce and sell hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2025.  They have partnered on vehicles before like the BMW Z4 and the Toyota Supra sports car, but the scope of this collaboration is unprecedented.  It brings the smarts and expertise of two automotive behemoths together to create next generation, zero emissions hydrogen vehicles.  Hydrogen vehicles use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity to fuel the vehicles. Hydrogen's Advantages Toyota in particular has depth of experience in developing hydrogen vehicles like the now 8-year-old Toyota Mirai hydrogen sedan. BMW recently introduced its next generation vehicle platform - Neue Klasse - that will be designed for building hydrogen vehicles as

  Bold New Design That Stands Out                                                                           Source:  Toyota Part Sedan - Part SUV Toyota is resurrecting its longest running model name with the unveiling of its new hybrid flagship sedan, the 2023 Toyota Crown.  The hybrid-electric vehicle will replace the Toyota Avalon in the Japanese automaker's lineup.  The Crown has quite the pedigree, dating back to 1955.  It became the first Japanese car sold in the US in 1958.  For 15 generations, the Crown was Toyota's premiere sedan.  The new Crown is much taller than a sedan with a high-riding SUV-like body.  Automotive experts are hailing the design as bold and blurring the lines between a SUV and a sedan.  It's a one-of-a-kind small SUV/sedan in the global automotive market.  Tech Specs The Crown will actually be a series of vehicles crossing vehicle classes.  It will be available with a choice of two different powertrains and 3 grades:  Crown XLE, Limited and Plat

  Big Electrification Push by 2030                                          Source:  Nissan New Concepts 4 New Electric Concept Cars Unveiled  Nissan is greatly accelerating its electrification program by 2030 with the launch of 23 new hybrid and electric models, including 15 fully electric vehicles.  As part of the electrification program, Nissan just unveiled 4 new, electric concept cars that are industry standouts.  They're called Chill-Out, Max-Out, Hang-Out and Surf-Out.  These concepts are decidedly different from current vehicles.  They are lifestyle vehicles, specifically designed to cater to the preferences and interests of specific customer and demographic groups. Breaking Conventional Automotive Modes The Hang-Out is a rugged crossover, specifically aimed at the needs and adventures of young families.  The Surf-Out is an electric pickup with a removable canopy for lifestyle enjoyment, like going surfing at the beach.  The Chill-Out is a very classy coupe crossover. And t

  Sky and Drive Commuting in Japan                                                        Source:  SkyDrive Automaker & Flying Car Startup Partner on Flying/Driving Taxis One of the world's leading automotive and motorcycle makers Suzuki and Japanese flying taxi startup SkyDrive are partnering to launch fleets of flying taxis, first in the Osaka Bay area of Japan in 2025.  SkyDrive's new vehicle called SD-XX is an eVTOL or electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle that operates like a helicopter and doesn't need a traditional runway to take-off from and land on.  Of big interest, SD-XX can drive to other locations once it lands.  SkyDrive has big backers in Toyota, Panasonic and Fujitsu.  SkyDrive intends to put the SD-XX prototype into commercial production in 2023.  Now partnering with Suzuki on R&D, manufacturing and mass production systems, SkyDrive will likely be able to bring large numbers of vehicles to market. Highly Advanced Travel Technology SD-XX is

  Sky and Drive Commuting in Japan                                                        Source:  SkyDrive Automaker & Flying Car Startup Partner on Flying/Driving Taxis One of the world's leading automotive and motorcycle makers Suzuki and Japanese flying taxi startup SkyDrive are partnering to launch fleets of flying taxis, first in the Osaka Bay area of Japan in 2025.  SkyDrive's new vehicle called SD-XX is an eVTOL or electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle that operates like a helicopter and doesn't need a traditional runway to take-off from and land on.  Of big interest, SD-XX can drive to other locations once it lands.  SkyDrive has big backers in Toyota, Panasonic and Fujitsu.  SkyDrive intends to put the SD-XX prototype into commercial production in 2023.  Now partnering with Suzuki on R&D, manufacturing and mass production systems, SkyDrive will likely be able to bring large numbers of vehicles to market. Highly Advanced Travel Technology SD-XX is

  Big Technological Convergence                                                        Source:  Sony Sony's  First Electric Cars in 2025 There has been a seismic move in the global electric car marketplace.  Japanese electronics and entertainment giant Sony is teaming up with global automotive giant Honda to develop and manufacture electric cars.  The new cars will go to market and be ready for purchase in 2025.  This partnership makes Sony the latest big player in the rapidly accelerating electric car business.  And the throw-weight of the synergistic technologies that the two partners bring to the table is mammoth.   Sony EVs Sony first announced its interest in developing electric cars in 2020.  At CES 2022, it unveiled a stunning electric SUV concept called Vision-S 02.  It can carry 7 people and includes the capacity for them to play video games made for the Sony Playstation 5 console.  Rather than following the path to develop and manufacture the e-SUV alone, Sony Mobility is