July 3, 2026

Suzuki announced that it has signed memorandums of understanding with two companies—one Indian and one U.S.—to introduce next-generation mobility in India. The two companies are Tote Infrastructure, which is engaged in urban development in India, and Glideways, a U.S.-based autonomous driving technology company in which Suzuki holds a stake. The companies will explore the introduction of a public transportation system that uses small electric vehicles operating autonomously in dedicated lanes as part of a redevelopment project centered on the terminal station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Toyota Motor Corporation announced that it has reached an agreement to establish a joint venture with U.S.-based Joby Aviation, a developer of “flying cars.” The two companies will work together to establish a production system for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, proceed with prototype development, and work toward the production of commercial aircraft.

SUBARU has added a hybrid model to its “Levorg Layback” crossover lineup. This is the company’s third hybrid model, following the Crosstrek and Forester. Prices start at 4,246,000 yen.

Honda announced that it is postponing the acquisition of parts manufacturer Astemo as a consolidated subsidiary until December 2026. While the company had originally aimed to complete the acquisition between April and June, the timeline has been pushed back because regulatory approval procedures have not yet been finalized in some countries.

Isuzu Motors announced that it has begun operations at “The EARTH lab.,” a new commercial electric vehicle development center established within its factory in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The facility will be responsible for the development, evaluation, and verification of batteries, motors, and electric powertrains. By consolidating its electric vehicle development capabilities, the company aims to enhance product competitiveness and accelerate development.

The Japanese subsidiary of China’s BYD announced that the top-tier model of its “Racco,” a kei EV set to go on sale on the 28th, will have a maximum range of 320 km. Powered by a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, it is expected to have the longest range of any kei EV, including those from domestic manufacturers. The price will be announced on the launch date.

ARCHION, a holding company established through the business integration of Hino Motors and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation, announced that it will participate in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s “Autonomous Truck Implementation Support Project.” This project aims to facilitate the societal implementation of freight transport using Level 4 autonomous trucks on expressways.

Orix Auto, logistics giant Senko, long-haul carrier Fuji Transport, and autonomous driving developer RoboTruck have announced that they will begin a public road demonstration using semi-trailer-type autonomous trucks. The demonstration will take place along the approximately 430-kilometer stretch between Atsugi-Minami Interchange and Kyoto-Minami Interchange, where the companies will test remote monitoring and emergency response systems.

NTT Mobility announced that it has established a committee to oversee safety management for its autonomous driving business. The goal is to develop safety management rules and systems for autonomous driving across the entire NTT Group. In addition to relevant departments within the NTT Group, external experts in law and technology will also participate.

Tier 4, a company developing autonomous driving technology, announced that it has been approved for listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Growth Market. This marks the first time a company specializing in autonomous driving technology has been listed on the domestic market. Founded in 2015, the company released the open-source autonomous driving software “Autoware” and has been leading its development.

Idemitsu Kosan, T2 — a company engaged in autonomous driving development— and Isuzu Motors have announced that they will collaborate to promote the adoption of next-generation biodiesel fuel in the trucking industry. Idemitsu will supply the fuel to T2, which will test it in commercial operations of autonomous trucks, while Isuzu Motors will handle repairs and maintenance.

Overseas, Zoox—a company under Amazon that develops autonomous driving technology — has unveiled a next-generation model of its robotaxi with an eye toward launching commercial service. While retaining its symmetrical, horse-drawn carriage-style cabin, the company has enhanced interior comfort and added two-way voice communication capabilities that enable interaction with the outside world.

German automaker BMW announced that it has completed the expansion of its main plant and the construction of a new plant in South Carolina. The total investment amounted to $1.7 billion (approximately 272 billion yen). The company plans to begin production of the “iX5” SUV—its first U.S.-made EV—in the second half of 2026, and to produce at least five EV models by 2030.

U. S .-based General Motors (GM) announced that it will gradually roll out the conversational AI “Google Gemini” for Cadillac and Corvette models sold in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and European countries, following its launch in North America. This will make a high-performance voice assistant available as a feature of the in-vehicle infotainment system.

U.S .-based semiconductor giant Micron Technology and General Motors announced that they have signed a long-term supply agreement for memory semiconductors. Memory chips have become an indispensable component in automobile production due to the widespread adoption of ADAS. Given the tight global supply and demand situation, the goal is to secure a supply in advance.

Reuters reports that Germany's Volkswagen (VW) is considering closing four plants in Germany and cutting up to 100,000 jobs. If carried out, this could be the largest restructuring in the company's history.

In addition, CARIAD,Volkswagen’s softwaresubsidiary, and Bosch of Germany announced that they have ended their joint development project on autonomous driving and driver-assistance technologies. The project, which had been scheduled to continue through at least 2029, is seen as part of cost-cutting efforts.