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☆ Scientists want the Paris Olympics to dump Toyota’s Mirai as its official car. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Angela Dewan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Cars that run on hydrogen emit zero carbon at the tailpipe, but 96% of the world’s hydrogen is still derived from fossil fuels like methane gas. That makes most hydrogen-powered cars much more polluting than battery electric vehicles, or EVs, and only marginally cleaner than traditional combustion engine cars. Toyota is supplying the Game’s official fleet, which includes 500 Mirai cars and 10 coaches that run on hydrogen, as well as 1,150 EVs, to ferry athletes around. It is also one a few major automakers betting on hydrogen-powered vehicles, as well. Hydrogen vehicles have so far failed to take off as a popular choice for consumers, and very little infrastructure to refuel with hydrogen exists.

Persons: ” Organizations: CNN, Paris Olympics, Toyota, University of Cambridge, Oxford University, University of Colorado, Battery Electric Vehicle, Paris, world’s, Toyota Motor Europe Locations: EVs, United States

☆ Toyota Recalls Over 600,000 Trucks and SUVs Over Safety Concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Aimee Ortiz | More About Aimee Ortiz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

More than 600,000 Toyota pickup trucks and SUVs in the United States were voluntarily recalled over the past week because of different issues that could increase the risk of crashes, the vehicle manufacturer said. The first announcement, on Feb. 21, stated that about 280,000 vehicles, including certain Toyota Tundra, Tundra Hybrid and Lexus LX600 vehicles from the model years 2022-2024 and Sequoia Hybrid vehicles issued from 2023-2024, were recalled because “certain parts of the transmission may not immediately disengage when the vehicle is shifted to the neutral position,” Toyota said in a statement. The defect “can allow some engine power to continue to be transferred to the wheels and can allow the vehicle to inadvertently creep forward at a low speed when it is on a flat surface and no brakes are applied, leading to an increased risk of a crash,” Toyota said. A defect information report posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations website said that affected vehicles could “inadvertently creep forward at a low speed (up to approximately 4 m.p.h.

Persons: ” Toyota, ” Organizations: Toyota, Lexus, Sequoia, Traffic Locations: United States

☆ Toyota is still No.1 but recalls and certification scandals add to list of problems
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The Japanese manufacturer said Tuesday it had sold a record 11.2 million vehicles worldwide in 2023, including its Daihatsu and Hino lineups. By comparison, Volkswagen Group announced earlier this month that it had delivered 9.2 million vehicles last year, up 12% compared to 2022. Volkswagen later gained on the Japanese company, unseating Toyota in 2017. That compared with 104,000 battery-powered vehicles sold by Toyota, which has long lagged behind in the global EV race. The company, which is a leader of hybrid cars, sold 3.7 million electric vehicles total in 2023 when including hybrids.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, ” Toyota, Toyota, BYD, Warren Buffett, Tesla Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong CNN — Toyota, Volkswagen, Toyota, Daihatsu, Hino, Volkswagen Group, General Motors, Toyota Industries, Cruiser Locations: Hong Kong, Japan, United States, Europe, North America, China

☆ Toyota halts shipment of 10 models over diesel engine testing issues
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

A special investigative committee found irregularities during horsepower output testing for the certification of three diesel engine models. Ten models use the affected engines globally, Toyota (TM) said, including the Hiace van, Fortuner SUV, Innova multi-purpose vehicle and Lexus-branded LX500D SUV. The company said it would take measures such as running new engine certification tests in the presence of regulators as needed. The company holds a near 25% stake in Toyota Industries, which is a key Toyota group company. Shares in Toyota Industries sank into negative territory shortly after the news and ended down 4%.

Persons: Koichi Ito Organizations: Toyota, Cruiser, Toyota Industries, Lexus, world’s, Daihatsu, Toyota Motor, Mar Locations: Tokyo, Aichi prefecture

A Toyota unit used software to measure horse power output that made “values appear smoother with less variation,” Toyota, the parent company, said in a statement. The vehicles “meet engine output standards,” and there is no need to stop using the engines or vehicles, the company said. The company named the affected models and engines, but did not say how many vehicles it would stop shipping. Still, Toyota decided to stop shipping the 10 models that use three diesel engines at issue. Then, it reported that Japan’s government was investigating Daihatsu, the subsidiary, for safety problems that dated back decades.

Organizations: Toyota, Daihatsu Locations: United States

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is telling the owners of about 50,000 older Corolla, Corolla Matrix and RAV4 models to stop driving them because their Takata air bag inflators are at risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel. The recalled RAV4s have Takata driver's air bags while the Corolla and Matrix models have them on the passenger side. The Corolla and Matrix also are under a separate recall because their air bags can be deployed without a crash, the company said. Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. The exploding air bags sent Takata of Japan into bankruptcy.

Persons: Toyota, RAV4s, Takata inflators Organizations: DETROIT, Toyota, Corolla Locations: U.S, Malaysia, Australia, Japan

Tokyo/Hong Kong CNN —Toyota will resume operations at its Japanese assembly plants Wednesday after a 24-hour stoppage caused by disruption to its finely-tuned supply chain. “It is our understanding that the malfunction of the system was not caused by a cyberattack. The system saves warehouse space and money but is vulnerable to disruption if any link in the chain is broken. Together, Toyota’s plants in Japan account for approximately a third of the automaker’s global production, according to Reuters calculations. Last year, Toyota was forced to shut down Japanese production after a cyberattack on one of its suppliers led to a system failure and a similar issue obtaining automotive parts.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, ”, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong CNN — Toyota, ” Toyota, Toyota, Volkswagen Locations: Tokyo, Hong Kong, Japan

☆ Toyota recalls Tundra models in largest recall this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Toyota has issued a voluntary recall for certain 2022 and 2023 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid trucks in its largest recall of 2023. Owners can visit Toyota.com/recall and enter either their VIN number or license plate information to see whether their car is included in the recall. This is the seventh recall involving the 2022 or 2023 Tundra model. Previous recalls included problems with the car’s electronic parking brake system, loose axle nuts, and a software issue with the vehicle’s rearview camera. The most recent Tundra recall was on July 7.

Organizations: New, New York CNN, Toyota, CNN Locations: New York

☆ Opinion | A Climate Hawk’s Issues With Electric Vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Peter Coy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I get why the Biden administration is pushing electric vehicles so hard. To stop the planet from overheating, we’ll eventually need motor vehicles to produce zero greenhouse gas emissions, and only fully electric vehicles can do that. Hybrids, which have combustion engines along with electric motors, will always puff some carbon dioxide (and other bad stuff) out of their tailpipes. By Toyota’s calculation, the amount of rocks needed for one long-range electric vehicle would be enough for either six plug-in hybrids or 90 of the type of hybrid that can’t be plugged in for a recharge. “The overall carbon reduction of those 90 hybrids over their lifetimes is 37 times as much as a single battery electric vehicle,” Toyota argues.

Persons: Biden, there’s, Toyota, That’s Organizations: Toyota

CNN —Elon Musk said Friday that Twitter has seen a “massive drop in revenue,” as a growing number of advertisers pause spending on the platform in the wake of his $44 billion acquisition. On Friday, organizations including the Anti-Defamation League, Free Press and GLAAD, upped their pressure campaign for more brands to rethink advertising on Twitter. Musk, known as both an innovative entrepreneur and an erratic figure, has promised to rethink Twitter’s content moderation policies and undo permanent bans of controversial figures, including former President Donald Trump. Most marketers bristle at the thought of having their ads run alongside toxic content such as hate speech, pornography or misinformation. Ad buying giant Interpublic Group, which works with consumer brands such as Unilever and Coca Cola, earlier this week also recommended its clients pause advertising on the platform.

☆ Toyota investing $5.6 billion to build EV batteries, despite its own doubts
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-31 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN Business —Toyota announced plans Wednesday to invest $5.6 billion in new plants to build electric vehicle batteries in Japan and the United States. But unlike other automakers who are going all-in on EVs, Toyota said it’s still not convinced that’s the best path forward. EV battery boomAutomakers having been rushing to announce EV battery plant plans in recent months, often with various partners. Just this week, Honda (HMC) announced a $4.4 billion joint investment with LG on a new US battery plant. Stellantis, which was formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler and French automaker PSA group, announced battery plant plans last year with LG.

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