I was shocked by all the tiny vehicles I saw in...
"Kei" cars are small, light and cheap. And they're cute. They are all over Japan, including big cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.Here are the most interesting tiny cars I saw on a recent trip to Japan, along with my top pick. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while…
A maker of tiny Japanese pickup trucks shut down its factories...
A Japanese tiny-car manufacturer has halted production of its vehicles after admitting it had been forging safety tests for 30 years.The company had already paused shipments of all its vehicles, and will now shut down its four Japanese factories until at least the end of January.It's the latest development in a long-running saga surrounding the…
This list of the 10 most reliable cars doesn’t have a...
Consumer Reports released its annual ranking of most reliable cars and brands. Toyota and Lexus top the list.Not a single American company ranked in the top 10. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app In some ways, electric vehicles are less complex than…
Millions of old Toyota Prius hybrids will be recycled for new...
Redwood Materials and Toyota announced a major new deal on Thursday. The agreement will mean Redwood can recycle batteries from millions of old Prius hybrids. Toyota will then use some of that salvaged material to make new EV batteries. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're…
America’s best-selling car will soon be hybrid-only
Toyota has said that the 2025 Camry will be available exclusively as a hybrid.The family sedan has been the best-selling car in the US for the past two decades.It has been available in petrol or hybrid versions since 2007, but from 2024 will be hybrid-only. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your…
Five big carmakers beat lawsuits alleging infotainment systems invade privacy
Enlarge / Infotainment system in a 2016 Ford Escape.Getty Images | Todd Korol A federal appeals court rejected lawsuits that alleged five major carmakers violated a Washington state privacy law. The lawsuits centered on car infotainment systems that store text messages in a way that potentially allows the messages to be retrieved by law enforcement…
The UAW beat the big three; Elon Musk’s Tesla is among...
Getty Images Six weeks of targeted strikes by the United Auto Workers has proved to be an effective approach. Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors have all reached tentative agreements with the UAW over the past 10 days. Now, the union wants to focus its attention on automakers like Toyota and Tesla, who have resisted unionization…
12 V battery problem forces Toyota to recall 1.8 million SUVs
Enlarge / This is the engine bay of a 2018 RAV4 Hybrid, but the problem is not the hybrid traction battery.Alun Taylor There's plenty of fear, uncertainty, and doubt about electric cars and the potential risk of battery fires, but the regular old 12 V battery is responsible for Toyota issuing a recall for more…
Toyota shows electric concepts at Tokyo show, but it may never...
Enlarge / Toyota CEO and President Kaji Sato on stage with the FT-Se (left) and FT-3e (right) concepts.Toyota A booth full of concept cars is nothing new at an auto show. This year at the Japan Mobility Show, though, Toyota called its entire booth a concept. The concept was "Find Your Future," and it was…
Toyota reveals its plan to catch up on EV battery technology
Getty Images Toyota, the world's largest automaker, has a problem. Although the company is famous for pioneering lean methods of manufacturing and being an early pioneer of hybrid electric powertrains, the switch to battery electric vehicles caught it somewhat unprepared. As rivals locked up contracts for critical minerals and formed joint ventures with battery makers…