VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Toyota recalls 135k Prius in Japan due to rear door handle issue. No accidents were reported. Production was halted, and orders were suspended.

Daihatsu's president indicated that Toyota will oversee model certification to rebuild trust following a safety test scandal.

Interest in electric vehicles is falling due to several factors, including a lack of charging infrastructure, increasing costs of raw materials, and financing rates.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has announced its plan to establish a second manufacturing plant in Japan, with support from tech giant Sony and carmaker Toyota.

To widen both of their horizons in car manufacturing, Toyota and Suzuki ties up for a business exploration ventures.

Honda, the Japan-based automaker, widened its sales portfolio to a robust 4,500 touch points from nearly 800 outlets. Honda's market share increased to 26% from 15% at the end of March 2011.

Toyota has been working with the local government along with Toshiba Corp. and Iwatani Corp. regarding hydrogen fuel cell. Hydrogen will be taken from the wind-power plant in Yokohama Hama Wing that will be compressed and delivered by a truck.

Mitsubishi Motor Cop. announced its intention to invest nearly P4.3 billion in order to commence its production of sedan and hatchback styles of Mirage model in Philippines. The investment activity will help the company to withstand the global economic slowdown.

Ford is reportedly intending to start a new plant in Mexico with an aim to boost its production capacity of US plants. This move by the company reflects its rival General Motors' investment plan of $5 billion to multiply the production capacity in Mexico within 2018.

Honda said it recalled a total of 442,997 vehicles in Japan. The automaker will also recall 2.2 million cars in the US.

Toyota and Daihatsu have reached an agreement which is believed to be executed by August 2016. Under the agreement, Daihatsu will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota by way of share exchange. Through the Toyota shared key technologies, Daihatsu will produce price efficient mini cars for itself and Toyota. Toyota President is believed to look for opportunity to dominate Indian car market snatching from Suzuki.

The case had been investigated since 2013, and the practices are believed to have been going on since 2011. U.S federal regulators claimed that African-American, as well as Asian/Pacific Islander borrowers, were charged more for auto loans. Toyota voluntarily agreed to pay the amount of compensation, but the company refuses to admit that the practice is a form of racial discrimination.

Toyota Motor Corp is reported to cease production at its local plants in early February due to the shortage of steel. The halt in production may affect the company's aim to create 4.13 million cars in Japan in 2016.

Toyota Motor is seriously contemplating a buyout of Daihatsu Motor Co., which would give the company direct access to Daihatsu’s 660 cc mini vehicles. This investment would fetch Toyota great returns in the emerging markets and also enable leveraging of the low-cost production model that has long been Daihatsu’s competitive advantage.

The Japanese car maker again previewed its S-FR concept, first introduced on October last year. The new model has seen some changes and improvements compared to last year's. It is believed that the production will start this year and the affordable sports car would be available in the global markets.