Automotive Archives - Page 11 of 13

Toyota and KINTO Aim to Provide ‘Cars That Evolve in Tune With People’

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and KINTO Co., Ltd. (KINTO) announced today that, amid rapidly advancing technological innovation surrounding cars and based on a mutual desire to swiftly deliver the evolution of cars to customers, they have taken on the challenge of providing “cars that evolve in tune with people”. The two companies kicked off this effort by offering from today, through KINTO(1), the new GR Yaris “Morizo Selection”, a product that can be updated with the latest software tailored to each customer.

In recent years, Toyota has drastically accelerated its automobile development in collaboration with ROOKIE Racing(2). Toyota President Akio Toyoda, in his Morizo persona, has even raced behind the wheel of the GR Yaris on the ROOKIE Racing team in the Super Taikyu Series–a top-tier endurance race series in Japan. Racing in this series has made possible constant vehicle updates via analysis and countermeasures based on driving data and driver feedback. Furthermore, such updates have been personalized to give drivers greater control over vehicle evolution.

In aiming to provide customers with the type of updates and personalization that ROOKIE Racing is putting into practice in its racing, Toyota and KINTO concluded that the best way to do so would be through the KINTO car subscription service. KINTO, in line with a shift in customer needs from car ownership to car usage, started in 2019, stemming from Akio Toyoda’s desire to offer “a new form of vehicle ownership that invites customers to enjoy their relationship with the car of their choice in a fun and easy manner”. A key trait of the KINTO service is its ability to continue providing added value even after a subscription contract has been signed. As such, Toyota and KINTO realized that the service would be the perfect platform for providing evolution to cars already in customer use.

By pairing racing-based updates & personalization with the KINTO service to introduce the latest software to customers’ cars even after such cars have been delivered, Toyota and KINTO intend to take on the challenge of evolving cars in a way that is in tune with customers.

Toyota and KINTO plan to evolve customers’ cars via the means described below.

Timely updates (from spring 2022)
Introduction of the latest software in line with technological innovations and the optimization of basic vehicle performance in terms of driving, turning, and stopping
Vehicle provision via GR Garage shops at various vehicle sales outlets (with some exceptions)

Announcement of detailed service offerings in spring 2022
Inclusion of cost in the monthly KINTO fee (with some services requiring additional fees)
Tailored personalization (under consideration) Software customization to suit each individual based on customer driving data to achieve “cars that evolve in tune with people” in the future
By evolving each car in a way that suits each customer, Toyota and KINTO aim to provide services that allow customers to enjoy their cars even more. The two companies plan to accelerate their efforts, such as by expanding the KINTO-service lineup of “cars that evolve in tune with people” to provide enjoyment of cars to as many people as possible.

(1) KINTO operates “Mobility Market”, which is a website that offers a diverse range of mobility services, including the KINTO ONE car subscription service, which conveniently combines various car-related expenses such as automobile insurance and automobile taxes in a single, fixed-sum monthly fee.
URL: https://kinto-jp.com/ (in Japanese only)
(2) ROOKIE Racing is a privateer team with a wide variety of drivers (including master drivers, racecar drivers, rallyists, evaluation drivers, and gentlemen drivers) that focuses on cultivating human resources and making ever-better cars using “skill” and “spirit” from various perspectives. It has a work consignment relationship with Toyota in which Toyota receives feedback from ROOKIE Racing and reflects it in vehicle development.

For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/35370952.html.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing scores a remarkable one-two in Sardinia

The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team has claimed an amazing one-two finish on Rally Italia Sardegna, with Sebastien Ogier scoring his third victory from five events so far this season and Elfyn Evans taking second to complete a remarkable result that extends the team’s advantage in the championship.

The team’s maiden Sardinia win came after a fast and reliable performance from the Toyota Yaris WRC and its drivers, who were able to overcome their disadvantageous positions at the head of the road order on Friday. Ogier was particularly impressive opening the road on Friday, ending the day in third before climbing into the rally lead on Saturday, when Evans also improved his confidence and speed to rise to second.

Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia safely managed their advantage through the final day’s four stages to clinch their fourth Sardinia victory and first since 2015.

Evans, co-driven by Scott Martin, started the final day with a strong stage win in SS17 to increase his advantage over third place, and was also fastest in SS19. In the final stage he was slowed after water entered the car in a watersplash, but the buffer he had built earlier meant his second place was secured.

With two bonus points for the fourth fastest time in the Power Stage, Ogier now leads the championship by 11 points over Evans, who is in turn 18 points ahead of the driver in third.

Taking three bonus points for the third-best time in the Power Stage was Kalle Rovanpera, who together with co-driver Jonne Halttunen had been forced to stop by a technical issue on Friday while running in second position. With the help of their additional points, Toyota now has a 49-point lead in the manufuacturers’ standings.

Three Toyota Yaris WRC crews finished inside the top four, with TGR WRC Challenge Program driver Takamoto Katsuta repeating the personal-best finish of fourth he recorded on the previous round in Portugal to continue his recent progress. On the final day Katsuta took a steady approach to secure the result while his co-driver Dan Barritt was feeling unwell as a result of dehydration due to the heat in Sardinia. Barritt was checked and released by doctors after the finish.

Quotes:

Akio Toyoda (Team Founder)
“I’m so proud that the team could finally win in Sardinia for the first time. Finally we could enjoy the tradition of jumping into the sea at the podium, and the one-two finish should make even the salty sea water taste nice. Congratulations!”

“I was there in Sardinia for the rally two years ago. Preparing a towel and a change of clothes, I was already thinking about how to dive in safely. However, the Yaris WRC, which was leading the rally, suddenly slowed down on the final stage. Even now I still feel sorry for Ott who was driving the car back then.”

“Thanks to Seb, Julien, Elfyn and Scott, who drove really well on the very demanding roads in Sardinia, we were able to find out how delicious the sea water is. My appreciation also goes to the team members who have been working to enhance the reliability of the cars. But there is still a lot for us to do, and I’m really sorry for what happened to Kalle and Jonne. I am sure that Jari-Matti, together with all of the team members, will continue making our cars stronger already from tomorrow.”

“Lastly, I would like to thank our fans for their passionate support. The next event is Kenya, which will be a totally new discovery for our team. I appreciate your continued support for us.”

“P.S. To Dan,
We can fix a car over and over, but Takamoto cannot compete without you. I think Takamoto put your health condition first and drove steady at the end. Together you made a very good decision. Please remember that health is always the most important!”

Quotes:

Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)
“This is a fantastic result for our team. We came here to Sardinia knowing that it would not be an easy rally for us, that we would not necessarily be able to win, but in the end we are celebrating a one-two. It was not a perfect weekend because of the problem that Kalle unfortunately had on the first day and we need to learn from this to be stronger in the future, but otherwise the three other cars were working really well on these tough stages. Overall we had performance, we had reliability and we had consistency. It’s very good news for the championship, but we know the competition is getting tougher all the time so we need to keep working if we want to have more results like this.”

Sebastien Ogier (Driver car 1)
“This has been an incredible weekend for us: We could not have expected to come away from Sardinia a result like this. To have one-two for the team, starting first and second on the road, is a fantastic achievement. I’m also very happy that we managed to find a better feeling with the car and react after Portugal, where maybe the speed was not as great as we wanted. Unfortunately in the Power Stage we had a misfire briefly after a watersplash which was very aggressive, but we still took two bonus points which is good for the championship. If we can keep this rhythm up we can be confident, but of course it’s never that easy.”

Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)
“Second place is a great result that we definitely would have taken after our struggles on Friday morning. This morning we didn’t have such a huge gap behind us so it was good to be able to extend that advantage further, and it’s probably just as well given what happened later on in the final stage. We seemed to take in some water and I wasn’t sure it was going to clear, but thankfully it did and it quickly went back to full power after that. It’s a slight disappointment not to take any extra points from the Power Stage because of that, but at the same time I’m relieved to hang on to second place.”

Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)
“Our aim today was to get as many points as we could from the Power Stage. Our starting position still made it a bit tricky, as there was some cleaning to do with only two World Rally Cars in front of us. So I had to make my own lines in many places and lost a bit of time with that, but I tried to push a lot and we came away with the third fastest time. Overall it was a really disappointing weekend from our side, but we just have to move forward. The positive thing is that the feeling in the car is good again after Portugal, and hopefully we can continue like this.”

For the latest results please visit www.wrc.com.

What’s next?

The iconic Safari Rally Kenya returns to the WRC calendar for the first time in almost 20 years on June 24-27. With a reputation for gruelling conditions, the African gravel event promises to provide an all-new challenge for the current crop of drivers.

Fukushima Prefecture and Toyota Begin Discussions Aimed at Building a Hydrogen-based City of the Future in Fukushima Prefecture

Fukushima Prefecture and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced today that they have commenced discussions with various partners over building a city for a new future that makes use of hydrogen and technologies produced in Fukushima Prefecture.

In order to further promote reconstruction, Fukushima Prefecture is focusing on hydrogen, a new form of energy, and has undertaken to build one of the first models for a future hydrogen society.

Isuzu, Hino, and Toyota all seek to realize carbon neutrality, and wish to contribute to the building of a new city of the future in Fukushima via their three-company partnership; consequently, Fukushima Prefecture, Toyota, and their partners will create an implementation model for hydrogen-based deliveries at supermarkets and convenience stores, which play a role both as essential urban infrastructure and as evacuation areas in times of disaster. They will first build an implementation model for a city with a population of 300,000 people, before embarking on a challenge to apply the model to similar-sized cities nationwide.

The implementation model will make use of hydrogen produced at multiple sites in the prefecture, including Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R), introduce several fuel cell (FC) trucks for deliveries, optimize operational management and hydrogen refilling schedules through the use of connected technologies, and carry out energy management that caters to the prevailing local conditions.

In addition, in response to the needs and issues experienced by Namie Town–where FH2R is located–and other regions in the prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, Toyota, and their partners will operate FC kitchen cars and medical cars, and use hydrogen at stores and plants in Fukushima Prefecture to reduce supply chain carbon emissions.

Following the announcement of Japan’s 2050 Carbon Neutral Goal, there is a growing need for concrete initiatives aimed at building sustainable societies that can be passed on to future generations. Fukushima Prefecture, Toyota, and their partners share this conviction; to this end, they intend to steadily promote the realization of one of the world’s first hydrogen societies, and of carbon neutrality, by expanding their spheres of cooperation, and taking advantage of the diverse regional characteristics of Fukushima Prefecture.

Participating partners, as of June 4, 2021 (in alphabetical order)
– Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.
– AEON CO., LTD.
– Isuzu Motors Limited
– SATONENRYO CO., LTD.
– Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd.
– DENSO FUKUSHIMA CORPORATION
– NEMOTO Corporation
– Hino Motors, Ltd.
– FamilyMart Co., Ltd.
– MARUTO CO., LTD.
– YORK-BENIMARU CO., Ltd.
– Lawson, Inc.
– Fukushima Renewable Energy Institute, AIST

Partner organization
New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization

Motul powers Asian team Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand at 49th edition of the Nurburgring 24hrs

Racing returns to one of the most notorious tracks in motorsport this weekend, as 125 touring cars from various classes look to battle it out around the arduous 25km track for the 49th edition of the ADAC 24 Hours of Nurburgring. Aptly nicknamed The Green Hell, the perilous Nurburgring track situated among the Eifel mountains in western Germany has hosted the 24-hour endurance classic since 1970. Asian racing fans will have a home-grown team from Thailand to cheer for, as the Motul-supported Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand gears up to enter their two Toyota Corolla Altis GT N24 cars in the historic race. The team is looking to build upon their success from 2020, where they managed to place 1st and 2nd in the SP3 class. Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand will once again be entering the #119 and #120 Toyota cars in the SP3 class. SP3 cars are classified by those with engine displacement up to 2000cc.

The #119 car line-up includes team director Suttipong Smittachartch with team mates Nattavude Charoensukhawatana, Nattapong Harthongkum and Manat Kulapalanont. At the same time Grant Supaphongs, Chen Jian Hong and Naoki Kawamura will take control of the #120 car. The all-Asian seven driver line-up will compete for the coveted Nurburgring trophy around the snaking and undulating circuit, which has proven to be a true test for man and machine. The track sets the stage for display of supreme driver ability as they get their heads down to battle the adverse conditions and bring the car home.

The team is going into the weekend with high expectations from fans to defend their champion status. After entering the competition for their first race in 2014, they are the first and only Thai team to compete in the world renowned 24-hour race. Having quickly risen to the top of the class, Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand has greatly contributed to put Thailand on the international motorsports map. The resilience, grit and determination shown by the team has helped them to overcome numerous challenges and prove themselves to be the best in their category.

The ADAC TOTAL 24-hour Nurburgring race is infamous for its dramatic elevation changes, bumpy tarmac and unpredictable weather, making it extremely challenging for the cars to perform on the limit for an extended period of time. With the engine working overtime to cover nearly 4,000km over 150+ laps without breaks, the team uses the flagship Motul 300V motor oil to ensure high performance. Furthermore, to lubricate over 100 gear changes each lap, the Gear Competition lubricant is used to keep the gearbox functioning throughout the 15,000 transmission changes over the length of the race. The triumph in the 48th instalment of the race was a strong testament to the reliability and utility of Motul products both on and off the track, as they look to reiterate that once again in this year’s 24-hour endurance.

Additionally, Motul products will be used by the Frikadelli Racing Team for their #30 and #31 Porsche 911 GT3 R cars in the SP 9 class, with a full eight-driver Porsche factory roster. Motul is also the motor oil of choice for Glickenhaus Racing LLC, who will be competing in the SP-X class with their #704 SCG 004C, which looks primed to outperform its top-15 debut in 2020. Several other teams on the grid have already adopted Motul products to keep their cars functioning at the optimum level.

Asia-Pacific fans can follow the race live on ADAC TOTAL 24H of Nurburgring race website (https://www.24h-rennen.de/) and get updates on Motul and Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Thailand social media channels.

24H of Nurburgring Schedule (All times in GMT+2)

Thursday

1230-1400 – Qualifying 1

2030-2330 – Qualifying 2

Friday
1530-1630 – Qualifying 3
1830-2050 – Top Qualifying 1+2

Saturday
1130-1230 – Warm-up
1530 – 24H of Nurburgring Race Start

Sunday
1530 – 24H of Nurburgring Race End

About Motul

Motul is a world-class French company specialised in the formulation, production and distribution of high-tech engine lubricants (two-wheelers, cars and other vehicles) as well as lubricants for industry via its Motul Tech activity.

Unanimously recognised for more than 150 years for the quality of its products, innovation capacity and involvement in the field of competition, Motul is also recognised as a specialist in synthetic lubricants. As early as 1971, Motul was the first lubricant manufacturer to pioneer the formulation of a 100% synthetic lubricant, issued from the aeronautical industry, making use of esters technology: 300V lubricant.

Motul is a partner to many manufacturers and racing teams in order to further their technological development in motorsports. It has invested in many international competitions as an official supplier for teams in: Road racing, Trials, Enduro, Endurance, Superbike, Supercross, Rallycross, World GT1, 24 Hours of Le Mans (cars and motorcycles), 24 Hours of Spa, Le Mans Series, Andros Trophy, Paris-Dakar, 8 Hours of Suzuka, Bol d’Or, Daytona 200-mile motorcycle race.

MOTUL Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd
1A International Business Park, #06-03
Singapore 609933
www.motul.com

Service Robot Industry Summit Held with Launch Ceremony of BooCax Robotics Henan Plant

On May 28, the Sanmenxia Government, with the Association of Industry Service Robots and BooCax Robotics, a national robotics company, hosted the Service Robot Industry Summit in Sanmenxia, Henan Provence, to discuss the latest developments in service robot technologies and artificial intelligence and automation. The Summit ended with the launch ceremony of the BooCax Robotics plant in Sanmenxia’s Economic Development Zone.

The Summit was attended by new medias, industry authorities and investors. Experts from the industry, including specialists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASIC) and Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), expressed opinions on the current AI technologies and discussed the development of mobile service robots, while BooCax Robotics introduced recent products including disinfection robots and cargo-carrying robots.

Equipped with an autonomous navigation system, these BooCax robots accomplish delivery or disinfection tasks smoothly. The disinfectant-spraying robots and UV-sterilizing robots contributed to the fight during the Covid-19 pandemic, following the cargo-carrying robots Oryx and Mini Hamster which have become popular in the market.

BooCax Robotics new 14,000-square-meter plant in Sanmenxia consists of two production lines and an R&D center. The new plant can secure a 1000+ unit annual output with testing and sales services. Sanmenxia City, a key area in the Belt-and-Road initiative, serves as an important transportation hub for Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi provinces.

Setting up the fourth subsidiary with an RMB 180 million investment in Henan after Shenzhen, Shandong and Chengdu marked the strategic expansion of BooCax Robotics. At the launch ceremony, Mr Xie Chuanquan, BooCax Robotics CEO, declared the company’s mission as ‘Better Robot, Better Life’.

Contact:
BooCax Robotics
Ken Wu
+86 147 7569 6403
ken.wu@boocax.com
https://www.boocax.com

http://www.henan.gov.cn/2021/05-31/2154949.html

Source: BooCax Robotics

Joint venture between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors marks 10 years

The joint venture between Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, NMKV Co., Ltd., has marked ten years since its founding.

Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors established NMKV on June 1, 2011 as a 50/50 joint venture engaged in product planning and project management for mini-vehicles sold in the Japan market. NMKV, with the combined strengths of Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors in fields such as product planning and development, design, and purchasing, aims to consistently deliver competitive products to customers.

As of May this year, combined sales of vehicles produced under the joint venture have reached a cumulative total of 1.52 million units.

Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors collaborate closely from the product planning stage while pursuing distinct designs that embody the two brands. This results in models with a high level of competitiveness that fuse the know-how and advanced technologies of the two companies. Models from both brands have earned high acclaim, with many winning prestigious awards. The latest Nissan ROOX and Mitsubishi eK space and eK X space were awarded “K Car of the Year” in the 2020-2021 Car of the Year Japan awards.

Mitsubishi Motors’ Mizushima Plant has made an investment of around eight billion yen, which is the first collaboration between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors toward starting production of new electric mini-vehicles, and NMKV is working with both companies to promote this project. Going forward, NMKV will continue to contribute to strengthening the domestic competitiveness of Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors through the planning of new and attractive products and project management.

Commenting on NMKV’s 10 years of operations, Nissan President Makoto Uchida said, “The mini-vehicles planned and developed through NMKV have evolved greatly over the past 10 years. The latest models from Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors feature many Nissan advanced technologies and are designed to make customers’ lives more comfortable and exciting. We will continue to adopt electrification and autonomous driving technologies to further strengthen the appeal of our products, and we will significantly advance our business collaboration with Mitsubishi Motors.”

Mitsubishi Motors President Takao Kato said, “The latest model in the eK series, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is a reliable, comfortable mini-wagon that combines Mitsubishi Motors’ 60 years of expertise in mini-vehicle manufacturing with Nissan’s advanced technologies under the project management of NMKV. Going forward, we will continue to strengthen cooperation with Nissan and NMKV to provide products that delight our customers.”

NMKV President Junichi Endo said, “NMKV is combining the best of Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors to create appealing vehicles for Japan’s national car, the mini-vehicle. Going forward, the three companies will continue to strengthen the source of their strength, Japanese manufacturing capabilities, and cross-company and cross-functional collaboration to promote even better vehicle manufacturing through the teamwork of the Alliance.”

About Mitsubishi Motors

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (TSE:7211), MMC–a member of the Alliance with Renault and Nissan–, is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has more than 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, mainland China, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Russia. MMC has a competitive edge in SUVs, pickup trucks and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and appeals to ambitious drivers willing to challenge convention and embrace innovation. Since the production of our first vehicle more than a century ago, MMC has been a leader in electrification–launched the i-MiEV – the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, followed by the Outlander PHEV – the world’s first plug-in hybrid electric SUV in 2013. MMC announced a three-year business plan in July 2020 to introduce more competitive and cutting-edge models, including the Eclipse Cross PHEV (PHEV model), the all-new Outlander and the all-new Triton/L200.

For more information on MMC, please visit the company’s website.

BYD Builds One-millionth New Energy Passenger Car

BYD is celebrating a significant production milestone by becoming one of the first new energy vehicle manufacturers globally to produce one million electric passenger cars. The one-millionth car, the Han EV, rolled off the production line today at BYD’s headquarters and manufacturing facility in Shenzhen.

VIPs from government departments, industry associations, BYD’s partners and suppliers

At BYD’s global headquarters, car owners assembled their vehicles in a specially choreographed display forming the number ‘1,000,000’ to help celebrate the milestone

Rolf Petter Almklov, Commercial Counsellor, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing and Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD at the ceremony

At a special ceremony this week, VIPs from government departments, industry associations, BYD’s partners and suppliers, more than 400 media guests, and about 100 BYD vehicle owners gathered to mark the occasion.

The landmark moment in BYD’s history coincides with the announcement that the first batch of 100 pure-electric BYD Tang SUVs are now ready for delivery to Norway – with the Scandinavian country selected as the platform for BYD’s ambitious plans in the European passenger car market. BYD also announced that a total of 1500 Tang SUVs will be delivered to Norway before the end of the year as the company commits to accelerating its European and global strategies. The initial 100 cars are scheduled for delivery to Norwegian customers in the third quarter of this year.

BYD’s one-millionth new energy passenger car rolls off the production line

BYD’s pioneering work in the development of battery technology and new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturing has led the new energy revolution in the global automotive industry since the company’s emergence in 2003 – spearheaded by innovative technologies and a well-calibrated global business strategy. In 2004, BYD unveiled its all-electric concept car, the ET, at the Beijing Auto Show, marking the premiere debut of an NEV model. This was followed in 2008 when the world’s first mass-produced plug-in hybrid NEV – the F3DM – was officially unveiled. Then, in 2020, the BYD Han was launched with performance specs setting twelve records globally and nine in China. The BYD Han continues to be a top-selling model in the mid-to-large luxury sedan sector, and with the credentials to rival models from the three German luxury car giants.

“BYD shoulders the responsibility and mission of upward development for China’s new energy vehicle brands,” said Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD Co., Ltd. “From zero to one million vehicles, this is BYD’s response to the call for global auto industry transformation. It also sets a benchmark in the journey of the new energy vehicle industry in China starting from nothing, alongside the greater national journey for a country dominated by traditional automobiles to one that is a leader in the field of sustainability.”

Customers first and foremost

“The journey to one million vehicles would not be possible without the support of car owners every step of the way,” he added, “and BYD recognizes that the ‘green dream’ can only be achieved hand-in-hand with all our customers.”

With this close relationship with customers in mind, BYD has invited ten of its NEV customers to attend the ceremony, including the owners of the 100,000th and the one-millionth vehicles to join BYD as it celebrates its work in helping move towards a better, more sustainable future.

In the central square of BYD’s global headquarters, another eighty BYD car owners assembled their vehicles in a specially choreographed display forming the number ‘1,000,000’ to help celebrate the milestone.

First 100 BYD Tang SUVs head for Norway with 1500 units scheduled in 2021

Alongside news of the production of its one-millionth passenger car line, BYD has also confirmed its entry into the European market with the first 100 pure-electric BYD Tang SUVs on their way to Norway. The northern European country has been selected to kick off BYD’s journey towards a successful presence in the burgeoning NEVs market in Europe.

With Rolf Petter Almklov, Commercial Counsellor, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing, alongside Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD, the first batch of 100 Tang SUVs will be shipped at the end of May and delivered to local customers in Norway during the third quarter of this year. Also before the end of 2021, BYD plans to deliver a total of 1500 Tang SUVs to Norway, underlining a significant commitment from BYD to its new Scandinavian market and its European neighbors.

With decarbonization high on the political agenda in Europe, BYD’s entry into the passenger car market comes at an important time. The BYD Tang EV provides serious competition for the more established European brands, with its stylish design and new technologies providing a compelling proposition for new car buyers. Central to its technology credentials is the new ultra-safe, space-saving Blade Battery, with performance figures including a class-leading range of up to 505km (NEDC) and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 4.6-seconds from its 86.4 kWh capacity.

BYD describes its new business in Norway as the ‘start of the European dream’ with respect to its passenger car ambitions. A key differentiator for BYD is its commitment to bringing only pure-electric, 100% emissions-free cars to market – a strategy supported by BYD’s electric bus product range and its leading position in eBus markets right across Europe.

Working side-by-side with leading supply-chain partners to forge the way

The key to realizing BYD’s dreams has been the support of leading supply-chain partners. At today’s ceremony, Wang Chuanfu made special reference to ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Fuyao, Valeo and others, while stating BYD’s intention to join hands with even more partners in a joint endeavor to lead the transformation of the global automotive industry and to forge the way ahead for electrification.

The replacement of the internal combustion engine with new energy vehicles – and specifically battery electric vehicles – is crucial for reducing dependence on fossil fuels, ensuring national energy security, and further achieving the goal of ‘peak carbon by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060’. As a principal participant and major force in the new energy automotive industry, BYD will continue to work with partners, suppliers and customers, to push ahead and realize the dream of green travel.

About BYD

BYD Company Ltd. is one of China’s largest privately-owned enterprises. Since its inception in 1995, the company quickly developed solid expertise in rechargeable batteries and became a relentless advocate of sustainable development, successfully expanding its renewable energy solutions globally with operations in over 50 countries and regions. Its creation of a Zero Emissions Energy Ecosystem – comprising affordable solar power generation, reliable energy storage, and cutting-edge electrified transportation – has made it an industry leader in the energy and transportation sectors. BYD is listed on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. More information on the company can be found at http://www.byd.com.

Contacts
Asia-Pacific: Mia Gu
mia.gu@byd.com; tel: +86-755-8988-8888-69666
North America: Frank Girardot
frank.girardot@byd.com; tel: +1 213 245 6503
Latin America: Mariana Osorio
mariana.osorio@byd.com; tel: +56 9 8588 0333
Brazil: Adalberto Maluf
adalberto.maluf@byd.com; tel: +19 3514 2554
Europe: Penny Peng
penny.peng@byd.com; tel: +31-102070888

Motul partners Suzuki for Singapore launch of all-new Suzuki Swift Sport

Motul and Suzuki have enjoyed a global partnership spanning over 30 years, and this tradition continues into Asia, as Motul partners with Suzuki Singapore to launch the all-new Suzuki Swift Sport, which features mild hybrid technology and a full sport package designed to deliver maximum fun and performance. Built for drivers, this car focuses on a sporty driving experience, alongside an affordable price point giving wider audiences access to pure performance.

This exclusive partnership formed with Champion Motors, the distributor of Suzuki cars in Singapore, highlights Motul’s continued dedication to the automotive sector in Asia by working with like-minded distributors and retailers across the region focused on enhancing driver experience.

Although small in size, the Suzuki Swift Sport punches well above its weight with the highest torque output compared to any of its competitors. Its dynamic 1.4 turbo engine aims at providing the drivers a sporty experience and excellent efficiency, featuring a mild hybrid system. This is where Motul will play its biggest role, giving engine enhancing performance and the lubrication needed to operate at maximum efficiency in the Suzuki Swift Sport’s hybrid engine.

To celebrate this partnership with Suzuki, Motul will be offering a limited number of Singapore’s Suzuki Swift Sport owners a complimentary upgrade to Motul’s engine oil for an entire year when servicing their car with Suzuki Singapore. Motul’s engine oil delivers several key benefits, including reduction of internal friction, excellent engine cleanliness and superb oil film strength to give a welcomed boost of performance. Using Motul’s engine oil for the new Suzuki Swift Sport Model will undoubtedly optimize the driving experience.

To demonstrate this performance, the Suzuki Swift Sport launch event in partnership with Motul was held at the end of April on the Kranji Karting Circuit (KF-1) in Singapore. Media were given the opportunity to test drive and experience the Suzuki Swift Sport enhanced with Motul lubricant, as the “hot hatch” made its debut in Singapore.

Motul and Suzuki have a long history of success together in motorsport. In 2020, Suzuki Italy in partnership with Motul became the first-ever hybrid rally entry in Europe with the Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid R1 Rally. It was an immediate victory in the Italian Rally Championship, taking victories in both events it has entered thus far.

Besides racing, Motul and Suzuki also work to strengthen their global business partnership strategies. In 2018, Suzuki announced that Motul would provide oil for every Suzuki product in the United Kingdom. Suzuki Italy and Spain also provide exclusive aftersales fill to all their respective markets. This network extension will be an area of priority for Motul in Asia, as Motul Asia Pacific continues to deepen its relationship with the Suzuki aftersales network across the region.

About Motul

MOTUL Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd

1A International Business Park,

#06-03Singapore 609933www.motul.com

China and Brazil Both Celebrate as World’s First Cross-Sea SkyRail Rolls off Production Line

SkyRail to connect communities while boosting the economy and tourism in Bahia State, Brazil

On April 8th, BYD ushered in a new milestone, as its Bahia SkyRail vehicle rolled off the production line in Shenzhen. The Bahia SkyRail, located in the city of Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, is the world’s first SkyRail line to be partially built above the sea.

BYD’s Full Market Electric Vehicle Solutions

The ceremony was held at BYD’s global headquarters in Shenzhen. Rui Costa, Governor of Bahia; Joao Leao, Vice Governor of Bahia; and Mrs. Shao Yingjun, Minister for Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy, witnessed the ceremony online.

Satisfied with the performance of the new model, Governor Rui Costa insisted that the VLT do Suburbio symbolizes an important international partnership for the modernization of urban transport. “After placing Bahia as the second metro extension in Brazil, we now take a large step towards modernization with this modern vehicle that will replace a train that no longer met operating conditions,” commented Rui Costa.

Joao Leao, Vice Governor of Bahia, also highly recognized BYD’s integral role in the project, expressing sincere gratitude to BYD.

Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD Company Limited & President of BYD Motors Inc., said, “Today’s vehicles are specially tailored to the unique geographical and cultural environment of Salvador, the smooth and comfortable ride, humanized and intelligent design will bring passengers a more pleasant and convenient green travel experience. Brazil has embraced BYD’s green, zero-emission transport offerings across the board, including pure electric buses, trucks, taxis and the SkyRail, making the country the leading model for eco-friendly transport in Latin America. In the future, BYD will continue to work hard with its leading new energy technology and high-quality rail transit offerings to help cities around the world build low-carbon transportation and achieve sustainable development!”

The Bahia SkyRail has been specially customized to meet local regulations and needs, as the world’s first SkyRail line built for an overseas market. The vehicle adopts a streamlined design, which reduces wind resistance while enhancing the overall aesthetics. Meanwhile, large, barrier-free doors enable passengers of all kinds to easily enter and exit, regardless of whether they are walking, in a wheelchair or pushing a baby stroller. The vehicles feature a walk-through train design to provide excellent accessibility, and the large windows on both sides offer expansive views for an enjoyable transit experience, while the air suspension system ensures that the vehicle runs quietly and smoothly.

Additionally, SkyRail is equipped with a fully automatic operation system with cutting-edge train control technology and an intelligent customer service system, which realizes a high degree of train automation. It enables more precise operations control, resulting in higher reliability, safety, operational efficiency, and punctuality. Meanwhile, on-board PIS, CCTV, emergency intercom, and other systems serve passengers in real-time, ensuring a safe and convenient riding experience. The vehicles can also be flexibly grouped according to actual capacity needs.

The Bahia SkyRail Line has 25 stations covering a total length of 23.3km. It will be connected with Bahia’s existing subway to form a comprehensive public transportation network.

Due to various factors such as local topography, community structure, demolition costs, and passenger volume, the Bahia SkyRail was customized to adhere to several extremely stringent technical standards, all of which it met.

SkyRail is a straddle-type monorail system developed by a dedicated 1,000-strong R&D team following five years of research and development worth 5 billion RMB, which aims to solve traffic congestion in cities. With a minimum turning radius of only 45 meters and able to climb gradients of 10%, SkyRail is well adapted to Salvador’s difficult terrain. What’s more, advanced autonomous driving technology together with a striking and futuristic appearance allows the SkyRail to seamlessly fit into modern urban environments.

SkyRail’s unique technologies have overcome many of the difficulties of construction and operation in Bahia. For example, the elevated tracks don’t occupy valuable road surface, meaning the space below them still can be rebuilt into pedestrianized areas, and their elevated position keeps them free from flooding, which has been a problem for the city’s existing rail network. Thanks to the integrated line monitoring system and the intelligent operations system, SkyRail can immediately identify risks, solve problems, and reduce manual workloads. Besides offering comfortable, low-carbon and efficient public transport for residents, the expectation is that SkyRail will also help attract new businesses and visitors to the area, aiding the government’s efforts to boost local tourism.

The SkyRail has already created a noticeable buzz among local citizens. As early as February 13, 2019, on the day of signing the contract, a large number of citizens held up a banner at the gate of the government of Bahia, which read “very welcome VLT, thank you, governor”, and yelled, “let’s make it a reality together.” Tyler Li, Country Manager of BYD Brazil, also said that when the SkyRail project team went to the local to inspect the progress of the project after half a year, the public recognized them at a glance and said hello cordially.

On January 3, 2020, the state government approved the full preliminary design of the Bahia SkyRail. Bahia Governor Rui Costa said at the time, “SkyRail technology is very advanced, and China’s rail technology has far surpassed that of other countries. I believe in Chinese technology.”

Representing China’s strategic focus on fostering “new infrastructure”, BYD’s rail transit solutions are being warmly received as it strikes up new partnerships, bringing Chinese technology to the world. In Brazil, BYD has already forged cooperation with two cities, among them Sao Paulo, for which the formal contract to build the metro network’s Line 17 was signed on April 27, 2020. BYD is also actively engaged in and negotiating other rail transit projects in more than 20 countries and cities spanning the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Africa, some of which are already under construction.

About BYD
BYD Company Ltd. is one of China’s largest privately-owned enterprises. Since its inception in 1995, the company quickly developed solid expertise in rechargeable batteries and became a relentless advocate of sustainable development, successfully expanding its renewable energy solutions globally with operations in over 50 countries and regions. Its creation of a Zero Emissions Energy Ecosystem – comprising affordable solar power generation, reliable energy storage, and cutting-edge electrified transportation – has made it an industry leader in the energy and transportation sectors. BYD is listed on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. More information on the company can be found at http://www.byd.com.

Media Contact:
> In Asia-Pacific: Mia Gu
mia.gu@byd.com; tel: +86-755-8988-8888-69666
> In North America: Frank Girardot
frank.girardot@byd.com; tel: +1 213 245 6503
> In Latin America: Mariana Osorio
mariana.osorio@byd.com; tel: +56 9 8588 0333
> In Brazil: Adalberto Maluf
adalberto.maluf@byd.com; tel: +19 3514 2554
> In Europe: Penny Peng
penny.peng@byd.com; tel: +31-102070888

Motul and Honda Racing Corporation Aim for the Top in World Super Bike Partnership

One of Motul‘s longest-standing and most valued OEM partners is Honda, and the two companies have developed and enjoyed over many decades a dedicated technical collaboration and proud support of Honda’s HRC factory racing teams in many different motorsport arenas. At the start of 2020 Honda returned to the Motul FIM World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK) as a full factory squad.

Now, for the 2021 season, Team HRC and its two riders, Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam, will benefit further from Motul’s support as Official Lubricant Partner. Having made great steps forward with every race in 2020, there is only one aim for this season: the top!

A partnership with strength in depth

The trust and deeply cooperative working relationship that has developed over the years has seen Motul contribute to the performance, reliability and efficiency of HRC’s competition models over all terrains including circuits, off-road and desert. The strength of this partnership has resulted in multiple victories in many different championships, most notably three wins for HRC at the Dakar Rally – the first being in 1989 and the most recent being this year, 2021. It has also led to several championship titles with Team HRC in MXGP including 2019 and 2020 in the hands of their super-dominant star rider Tim Gajser.

Smoothing the way with Motul

Together with Motul, Team HRC has been continuing development of the CBR1000RR-RR FIREBLADE, with continual feedback to engineers in Japan. Among Motul’s international R & D centers is one in Japan whose engineers collaborate with HRC’s engine development department on a range of different projects including the development of high-tech synthetic lubricants. Principal among these is the tailor-made Motul 300V Factory Line Racing Kit Oil 2376H 0W-30 fully synthetic engine oil which will be used alongside the Motocool Factory Line and MC CARE range of products.

The viscosity grade 0W-30, 100% synthetic lubricant yields a low traction coefficient thanks to the EsterCore technology, generating a friction reduction and therefore providing a significant gain in engine power.

Nicolas Zaugg, Motul Chief Value Officer: “We are delighted to be extending our great working relationship with Honda and HRC to WorldSBK. The collaborative vision and technological partnership we have developed together is the perfect example of Motul’s living laboratory philosophy-developing and testing experimental products in a racing application before offering them for sale to a wider customer base. It’s a win-win deal as far as we are concerned.”

Tetsuhiro Kuwata, HRC Director – General Manager Race Operations Management Division: “We are pleased to announce Motul as Official Sponsor of our factory Team HRC in the highly competitive 2021 FIM Motul Superbike World Championship, thereby extending the relationship between our brands and further strengthening what is a very important project for us, with our CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP. Honda and Motul each boast a long and successful history in high-level motorsport competition around the world, both brands being driven by the constant pursuit of victory and by the strong belief that the racing arena is the ideal setting in which to grow our human capital and develop our know-how and technology. In doing so, we offer our customers the best possible products, while bringing joy and excitement to our fans around the world. We are living in a time of great challenges, but we are ready to fight to achieve our mutual goals, which we will pursue with determination, positivity, and confidence in the future.”

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