Shiotsu Autotrade - President’s Blog

Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of Nissan, recently said in a statement that Nissan is aiming to launch an electric car in the Japanese and US market by 2010. Nissan aims to offer their electric cars globally by 2012, in their long term plan.

In this world of rising gas prices and pollution, Nissan Electric Cars would also be able to meet the stricter fuel-economy standards in developed nations through this initiative.

Nissan has plans to develop subcompact electric cars powered by self-developed lithium-ion batteries. With this Nissan has now become the first Japanese automaker to announce their plans to develop and sell mass market, all-electric vehicles globally.  This would put them in direct competition with domestic rivals Honda and Toyota both of which are already selling hybrid cars in Japan and USA.

Technorati Tags: Nissan, electric car, Japanese, cars, pollution, Honda, Toyota, hybrid, Japan

We constanly hear all the talk about the rising gas prices, importance of fuel economy,innovations of Hybrid Cars and how they are sweeping the whole world.  Honda and Toyota  can not build them fast enough to meet the rising demand for hybrids. One of our customers recently inquired if there are any hybrid trucks made in Japan. And my answer was Yes.

Hino Motors, the heavy-truck division of Toyota, already offers the Hino 165 Hybrid in Japan since 2003.  Hino 165 Hybrid is powered by a diesel/electric hybrid system.  However, this truck currently sells for more than $100,000, so not affordable by many people. The fuel saving is a solid 14 to 27% over the conventional models like the Isuzu and other competing trucks.

Canter Eco Hybrid from Mitsubishi Fuso is another energy-efficient medium-duty truck in the world.  With its diesel-electric drivetrain, the Canter offers the best of both worlds: a Li-ion-powered electric motor that kicks into action during stop-and-go driving (ideal for city-bound, delivery-type trucks like this), and a high-efficiency, cleaner-burning diesel engine for highway cruising.  The result is a 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over similar trucks, and the first commercial truck to meet Japan’s new long-term emissions regulations, which came into effect August 2007.

Because of the relative efficiency of modern (bio) diesel engines compared with petrol engines, diesel hybrids are becoming a popular, if still more costly twist on typical hybrid cars.

Technorati Tags: Hybrid, Cars, Honda, Toyota, Japan, Hino, Isuzu, Canter, diesel

With the cost of oil continuing to climb past $100 a barrel, many say $4.00+ a gallon will soon be a reality. Many researchers are working on alternative fuels and improving car engine efficiency to take control of this fuel crisis.

Recently, one of my friends showed me his old used car which he has modified to run on water and gas. Does it not sound unbelievable?

Well, his modified car works on a principle called Hydrogen On Demand System which uses  a little electricity out of your car/truck battery, to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 parts Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen).  The HHO gas is 3 times more potent than gasoline, so when the HHO gas is mixed with gasoline, the results are claimed to be simply amazing - leading to increased fuel efficiency by over 100%.  

I won’t recommend you to convert your new car to run on water. However, if you have a spare old car or truck, and you are a DIY fan, you can definitely try to run it on water.  You can find more information about this system on  Water4Gas Cars website.  You can also order all the necessary parts from Water4Gas Cars site.  Please let me know your experience if you try this modification on your car or truck.

Technorati Tags: used car, water, HHO, gasoline, fuel efficiency, car, truck, Water4Gas

Recently one of our customers from Chile imported few used Japanese Tow trucks. He was very impressed by the way Japanese tow trucks lift cars in the street. Though we are used to such scenes in Japan, many foreigners find it very interesting. So, I am publishing this video of a heavy duty tow truck lifting a broken car from the street.

If you wish to import such used tow trucks from Japan, we will be happy to serve your needs.

Technorati Tags: Chile, used, Japanese, Tow trucks, trucks, cars, Japan

Japanese Mini-Trucks also known as Kei-trucks are normally used as work trucks in Japan. But these days some Drift enthusiasts are modifying these truks for Drifting. So do not be surprised if you see a Japanese Minitruck competing with Nissan Skyline sports car in a Drift Event.

Well, there is always some excitement for those who want to try something different. And if you watch this video, you will definitely agree that it is indeed fun to watch these trucks doing challenging course at top speed in drifting events.

Though we do not deal with modified mini-trucks for Drifting, we can definitely supply new or used mini-trucks for other purposes.

Technorati Tags: Japanese, Mini-Trucks, Kei-trucks, Japan, Drift, Drifting, Nissan, Skyline

Based on news from Trading Markets, Hino Motors - Japan’s major manufacturer of heavy duty trucks, is planning to export trucks to Russia and India in 2009. Hino aims to sell 10,000 units a year in each country.

Due to a construction boom and rapid economic growth, Russia has a growing need for trucks. According to Avtorevyu, Russia imported 39,469 trucks (new and used) in the first eight months of 2007.

The truck demand in India is growing at a rate of over 30% every year. Tata and Ashok Leyland are major truck makers in India.  But there is clear demand for environment friendly trucks because of stricter pollution control rules. Hino is planning to tap that market.

For the time being, Hino will ship the trucks from Japan, but it will consider local assembly when unit sales reach 10,000 in each market.

This is a good news for our customers in Russia and India who import used Hino trucks, that they will soon have authorized Hino service centers in their countries.

Technorati Tags: Hino, Japan, trucks, Russia, India, used

In my earlier post about Nissan’s Diversity Drive for its female workforce, I had mentioned about the limited role women in Japanese Car Industry and how Nissan is planning to change its corporate culture to include more women.

I recently came across the book Why Women Mean Business which gave a similar message looking at the global corporate culture. This book suggests that gender equality in the labour force could increase GDP by as much as 9 per cent in the US, 13 per cent in Europe and 16 per cent in Japan.

I agree with this view. Women have become probably the greatest neglected resource in business, both in their productive potential as employees and their market potential as buyers.

Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of  Nissan,  recently mentioned that women directly made or influenced two-thirds of car purchases in Japan. So women definitely play a big role as buyer in Japan. As per Nissan’s surveys, 80 per cent of women buyers and half of men would prefer to see women sales executives in car showrooms. Yet only one out of ten salespeople in the Japanese car industry are women.

Companies are learning that they need to change how they market to women. And to start with, I have included my wife and one more female staff member to give more attention to our women buyers.

Technorati Tags: women, Japanese, Car, Nissan, Japan

The A-BATconcept hybrid

The Japanese Auto-maker,Toyota has switched direction with its 2008 concept - the A-BAT hybrid pickup concept.  The  new A-BAT concept is 27 inches shorter than an extendee cab Tacoma and nine inches shorter than the regular car model.  The A-BAT is the first Toyota car to have a mid-gate allowing cargo longer than the standard four-foot bed to extendinto the cab.  The power fro the A-BAT comes from Toyota`s hybrid synergy drive mated to a four-cylinder engine.  Based on the snub-nosed styling,it seems probable that the engine is transversely mounted and driving the front wheels.

Cadillac provoq concept

With updated cadillac styling cues on a 180-inch long CUV body,its stretched 10 inches longer than a volt toallow comfortable seating for five passengers.The cadillac provoq concept is intended to help give the brand an image premium sustainability by updating the fuel cell E-Flex power train. Like the other E-Flex vehicles,the provoq has plug-in capability and the battery has enough capacity for about twenty miles of driving. 

Mercedes Benz vision GLK

This is a midsize SUV,which is a production concept for the GLK sport -utility vehicle.This handsomely rugged SUV  makes its debut in production from April.The production GLK comes in two versions- the off road model and the luxury-sport motif.

Technorati Tags: concept, Japanese, E-Flex, Mercedes