Copyright kyodonews
TOKYO - Practicality took center stage at the Tokyo auto show, where many Japanese automakers showcased their latest electric vehicles set for release in the coming years as they race to catch up with overseas rivals and make environmentally friendly options more accessible to domestic consumers. A record number of more than 500 companies and organizations are taking part in this year's Japan Mobility Show, which opened to the media on Wednesday for a two-day preview, encouraging visitors to imagine the future of transportation. The event will be open to the public through Nov. 9. Honda Motor Co. will showcase its Super-One Prototype, a mini EV set to launch first in Japan in 2026 before expanding to Britain and other Asian markets. The automaker will also display a "sustainable rocket" used in a test launch in Hokkaido in June. Measuring 6.3 meters long and weighing 900 kilograms when empty, the reusable rocket uses renewable fuel. Toyota Motor Corp. said earlier this month it will unveil an orange coupe concept version of its ultra-luxury Century at the event, positioning the model as a standalone brand alongside Lexus and its GR sports cars. The automaker will also showcase a new concept model of the Corolla. Toyota, the world's largest automaker by volume, recently announced it will jointly develop cathode materials for all-solid-state batteries with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., aiming to launch electric vehicles powered by the next-generation batteries between 2027 and 2028. At Nissan Motor Co.'s booth, visitors can see the new Elgrand minivan, a staple in Japan for nearly 30 years, which will feature the company's third-generation e-Power technology and go on sale in fiscal 2026. The automaker will also showcase the new Leaf EV, a third-generation model released in Japan on Oct. 17, which can travel 702 kilometers on a single charge. Chinese EV giant BYD Co. will exhibit a prototype of its electric vehicle featuring its newest blade batteries, a type of lithium-iron-phosphate battery known for being safer and longer lasting, while South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co. will take part in the mobility show for the first time. Alongside major companies unveiling world premiere vehicles, the event will feature the "Tokyo Future Tour 2035," an area divided into five zones where visitors can experience what the world may look like 10 years from now, across land, sky and sea, including flying cars.
