Japan

Japan's sales of new vehicles hit 38-year low

Japan's sales of new vehicles hit 38-year low Tokyo  - Japan's domestic sales of new vehicles fell to the lowest in 38 years as the global economic downturn shaved off consumer appetite for cars, buses and trucks, an industry organization said Wednesday.

Sales of new motor vehicles declined 15.6 per cent in the 2008-09 business year that ended March 31 to 2,891,901 units, which was the first time the sales dropped below 3 million since 1971, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said.

Tokyo stocks open new fiscal year higher despite Tankan results

Tokyo stocks open new fiscal year higher despite Tankan results Tokyo  - The Japanese market opened the new fiscal year in a positive light Wednesday, despite the Bank of Japan's Tankan survey results.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 242.15 points, or 2.99 per cent, to 8,351.68.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 22.09 points, or 2.89 per cent, to 795.75.

Japan's key Tankan index of manufacturer sentiment hit a record low in March, the Bank of Japan said Wednesday.

Taiwan picks Japanese chipmaker to upgrade semiconductor industry

Taiwan picks Japanese chipmaker to upgrade semiconductor industry Taipei  - Taiwan has picked Japanese chipmaker Elpida Memory Inc to help upgrade the island's semiconductor industry, an industry source said Wednesday.

But John Hsuan, head of the Taiwan Memory Co (TMC), which was formed last month to integrate Taiwan's semiconductor industry, said TMC also seeking the cooperation of US chipmaker Micron Technology Inc.

Nissan testing fuel cell SUV

Nissan testing fuel cell SUVTokyo  - Nissan has started extensive testing of a fuel-cell prototype SUV based on the Nissan X-Trail that it hopes to have ready for serial production in 2015, reports said.

Compared to a previous model, the latest X-Trail FCV generation power output has been boosted from 90 to 130 kW. At the same time, the fuel cell stack has been reduced in size from 90 to 68 litres, giving the engineers more flexibility in the packaging, the German auto-motor-sport magazine reported.

Toyota develops rear seat airbag

Toyota develops rear seat airbagTokyo  - Toyota has developed the first cen

Tankan survey finds deep business pessimism in Japan

Tankan survey finds deep business pessimism in Japan

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