For Masatsugu Horie's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Sales of bikes with engines larger than 251cc rose 32% to 51,035 units in the first half of the year, according to the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association.
Made out of zirconia, the finger-worn gadget lets people do things such as lock and unlock doors, as well as pay for drinks in stores.
Achieving the target set out last year in Nissan's turnaround plan would be a positive sign the carmaker is holding up despite the shortages plaguing the industry.
The automaker has embarked on an ambitious plan to go all electric by 2040 and make highly autonomous cars a reality.
A partnership with GM is part of a trend of carmakers sharing the burden of bringing new technology to market.
Prime Planet currently holds the top share — around 25% — of the market for hybrid batteries, but lags far behind in higher capacity EV batteries.
The company held some $730 million of Tesla shares as of March last year, and that stake had been reduced to zero by the end of this March.
Honda has said publicly it will phase out sales of gasoline-powered cars completely, setting 2040 as the goal.
As retailers around seek ways to make it easier to shop seamlessly without touching anything, MTG in Japan is betting its technology can rule them all.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, more young people are taking an interest in the cars, drawn by their ability to handle all sorts of outdoor terrain.
