Toyota Motor Corp chief Akio Toyoda, tapped to head the Japanese auto industry association, promised Friday to lead a push among manufacturers to keep a competitive edge in emerging technologies such as zero-emission and autonomous driving. Japanese companies are among the world’s top automakers, but some are worried
Toyota Motor Corp chief Akio Toyoda, tapped to head the Japanese auto industry association, promised Friday to lead a push among manufacturers to keep a competitive edge in emerging technologies such as zero-emission and autonomous driving.
Japanese companies are among the world’s top automakers, but some are worried whether they can maintain that lead amid major technological shifts that allow the entry of newcomers, including those outside the auto sector.
Toyoda, the new chairman of the 14-member Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association, acknowledged that new competitors have plentiful cash and tend to be quick. He did not give examples, but among such big names are Google Inc, with its Waymo self-driving car spinoff, and ride-hailing service Uber.
“Whether we can stay competitive is an important challenge for Japanese automakers,” he told reporters, adding that he views the new technologies as opportunities.
