Toyota to Honda: Why automakers are building rockets and racing into space
Honda
successfully launched and landed a reusable experimental rocket in June 2025. Conducted at its facility in Taiki, Hokkaido, the test saw the 6.3-meter-long rocket reach 271 meters in altitude before landing with remarkable precision, just 37 centimeters from its target. This makes Honda the first company outside the US and China to demonstrate working
reusable rocket technology
. While the brand is best known for two-wheelers and sedans, this move signals a bold diversification into space. But Honda isn't alone; global automakers like Toyota and Geely are increasingly shifting gears into orbital ambitions. SpaceX is leading the private space industry with frequent launches, reusable rockets, and its Starlink satellite constellation, setting a benchmark that others now aim to match. The space race is no longer just for space agencies—it's becoming an auto industry frontier.
Honda's reusable rocket milestone
Honda's test rocket, weighing around 1,312 kg when fully fueled, showcases years of behind-the-scenes work on spaceflight systems. Since 2021, the company has been developing core space technologies focused on reusable rocketry, precision landings, and stable autonomous flight. The successful test is just the first step; Honda aims to achieve suborbital launch capability by 2029, eventually entering the satellite deployment market. It sees space as a natural extension of its work in robotics, mobility, and renewable energy—fields that will all play vital roles in future off-world infrastructure.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Pernas e tornozelos inchados? Descubra o que pode ajudar a drenar agora
aartedoherbalismo
Undo
Toyota's space ambitions
Toyota, Japan's largest automaker, has also been building its presence in the space sector. Through its subsidiary Woven by Toyota, the company plans to begin mass production of rockets in the early 2030s. Toyota's strength in automation and manufacturing scalability gives it a competitive edge in producing reliable, cost-effective launch systems. Beyond rocketry, Toyota is also involved in lunar exploration, having partnered with JAXA (Japan's space agency) to develop a crewed moon rover called the Lunar Cruiser. These ventures reflect Toyota's vision of expanding mobility beyond the planet.
Tesla and SpaceX: Leading the charge
Tesla's connection to the space industry runs deep through Elon Musk's aerospace venture, SpaceX. While not directly part of Tesla, SpaceX is a pioneer in reusable rockets and satellite internet infrastructure. Its Falcon 9 and Starship programs have drastically lowered launch costs and made frequent space travel more viable. SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation already supports internet access worldwide, including for Tesla vehicles in remote areas. This synergy between automotive innovation and space infrastructure highlights how intertwined the two sectors have become.
Other automakers exploring space
Geely
(China):
The parent company of Volvo and Lotus, Geely operates Geespace, which plans to deploy hundreds of low-Earth orbit satellites to support autonomous driving and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.
Hyundai:
Actively investing in lunar robotics and AI to support future space missions.
These efforts suggest that space is becoming a common strategic frontier for automakers aiming to diversify their operations and technologies.
Why the auto industry is looking to the stars
As space becomes increasingly integral to communication, navigation, and data infrastructure, automakers are realizing they can no longer afford to stay grounded. With their deep expertise in systems engineering, manufacturing precision, and automation, car companies are uniquely positioned to contribute to and benefit from the booming space economy. From supporting autonomous vehicle connectivity to developing next-generation mobility platforms, the automotive industry sees the final frontier not just as an exploration challenge but as a strategic expansion of their core competencies. Here's why more automakers are now setting their sights on the stars:
Satellite connectivity:
Modern vehicles increasingly depend on satellite systems for real-time GPS navigation, over-the-air updates, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, and autonomous driving technologies. By investing in space infrastructure, automakers can ensure more reliable, secure, and tailored connectivity services for their global fleets—especially in remote or underserved regions.
Engineering expertise:
Automakers have decades of experience in combustion systems, lightweight materials, aerodynamics, and mechatronics. These core engineering competencies translate directly into rocket design and space systems development, allowing them to innovate in areas like fuel efficiency, structural integrity, and advanced control mechanisms.
Cost control:
Relying on external providers for satellite launches or data access can be expensive and limiting. By developing in-house space launch capabilities or owning satellite constellations, companies can significantly reduce operational costs, gain better control over data infrastructure, and enhance independence in an increasingly competitive market.
New revenue streams:
Space opens up lucrative new business models—from deploying and operating satellite networks to offering space-based logistics, communications services, and even Earth observation data. These ventures allow automakers to diversify beyond vehicle sales and tap into the multibillion-dollar global space economy.
Mobility evolution:
The concept of mobility is evolving from road-based transport to interplanetary logistics. Automakers are exploring technologies for lunar rovers, Mars exploration vehicles, and orbital transportation. By participating in early space infrastructure, they aim to shape the future of off-Earth mobility, logistics, and life-support systems.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Starlink to have 20 lakh users in India at most, says government
NEW DELHI : Elon Musk-led satellite communication services provider Starlink can have only 20 lakh connections in India due to constraints over spectrum capacity, minister of state for telecom Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said on Monday, playing down any immediate threat to local telecom operators. He said the company is likely to opt for a monthly consumer broadband plan that may cost around Rs 3,000, much higher than the plans offered by companies such as Jio, Airtel, and BSNL , but still aggressive from a satcom perspective. Speaking on the sidelines of a review meeting of BSNL here, he said, 'Starlink can have only 20 lakh customers in India and offer up to 200 Mbps speed. That won't affect telecom services.' However, considering that the company's global customer footprint is to the tune of 50 lakh users, the Indian number will still be highly significant for the company if it hits peak. Satcom services are expected to target rural and remote areas, where BSNL is known to have a significant presence. A govt official mentioned that the limit on Starlink connections will be due to its existing network capacity. Starlink has a lowearth orbit constellation of 4,408 satellites, which orbit the earth at a distance of about 540-570 km. It is expected to have a 600 Gbps throughput over India. The company's authorisation is valid for five years or until constellation end. After receiving a satcom licence from DoT and satellite authorisation from INSPACe, Starlink will now begin to build ground infrastructure. It is planning to import equipment for which it will approach DoT for permissions. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Cryptocurrency Live News & Updates : Dow Jones Declines as S&P Nears Record Highs
28 Jul 2025 | 11:55:12 PM IST Following a favorable U.S.-EU trade deal, traders are now awaiting updates on U.S.-China negotiations, with the Dow Jones down 0.10% and the S&P 500 close to all-time highs. In the latest market developments, the Dow Jones has dipped by 0.10% while the S&P 500 is nearing record highs, reflecting mixed sentiments among traders after a recent U.S.-EU trade agreement. This deal, which imposes a 15% tariff on EU goods while maintaining a 0% rate on U.S. exports, has raised concerns about its impact on EU industries. As the August 1 deadline for U.S.-China trade talks approaches, uncertainty looms over potential punitive tariffs if an agreement isn't reached. Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency market is witnessing significant movements, with Vine Coin skyrocketing 90% following Elon Musk's comments about reviving the Vine platform, reflecting the influence of social media on crypto prices. Additionally, BNB's market cap has surged to $119.14 billion, surpassing major companies like Nike, while CAKE has broken out of an ascending triangle pattern, targeting a 38% rally. These developments highlight the dynamic interplay between traditional markets and the evolving cryptocurrency landscape. Show more
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
Rise Of Deepfakes: Realistic AI Impersonations Threaten Governments, Businesses, And Trust
WASHINGTON: The phone rings. It's the secretary of state calling. Or is it? For Washington insiders, seeing and hearing is no longer believing, thanks to a spate of recent incidents involving deepfakes impersonating top officials in President Donald Trump's administration. Digital fakes are coming for corporate America, too, as criminal gangs and hackers associated with adversaries, including North Korea, use synthetic video and audio to impersonate CEOs and low-level job candidates to gain access to critical systems or business secrets. Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence, creating realistic deepfakes is easier than ever, causing security problems for governments, businesses and private individuals and making trust the most valuable currency of the digital age. Responding to the challenge will require laws, better digital literacy and technical solutions that fight AI with more AI. "As humans, we are remarkably susceptible to deception," said Vijay Balasubramaniyan, CEO and founder of the tech firm Pindrop Security. But he believes solutions to the challenge of deepfakes may be within reach: "We are going to fight back." This summer, someone used AI to create a deepfake of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an attempt to reach out to foreign ministers, a US senator and a governor over text, voice mail and the Signal messaging app. In May, someone impersonated Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles. Another phoney Rubio had popped up in a deepfake earlier this year, saying he wanted to cut off Ukraine's access to Elon Musk's Starlink internet service. Ukraine's government later rebutted the false claim. The national security implications are huge: People who think they're chatting with Rubio or Wiles, for instance, might discuss sensitive information about diplomatic negotiations or military strategy. "You're either trying to extract sensitive secrets or competitive information, or you're going after access to an email server or other sensitive network," Kinny Chan, CEO of the cybersecurity firm QiD, said of the possible motivations. Synthetic media can also aim to alter behavior. Last year, Democratic voters in New Hampshire received a robocall urging them not to vote in the state's upcoming primary. The voice on the call sounded suspiciously like then-President Joe Biden but was actually created using AI. Their ability to deceive makes AI deepfakes a potent weapon for foreign actors. Both Russia and China have used disinformation and propaganda directed at Americans as a way of undermining trust in democratic alliances and institutions. Steven Kramer, the political consultant who admitted sending the fake Biden robocalls, said he wanted to send a message about the dangers deepfakes pose to the American political system. Kramer was acquitted last month of charges of voter suppression and impersonating a candidate. "I did what I did for $500," Kramer said. "Can you imagine what would happen if the Chinese government decided to do this?" The greater availability and sophistication of the programs mean deepfakes are increasingly used for corporate espionage and garden variety fraud. "The financial industry is right in the crosshairs," said Jennifer Ewbank, a former deputy director of the CIA who worked on cybersecurity and digital threats. "Even individuals who know each other have been convinced to transfer vast sums of money." In the context of corporate espionage, they can be used to impersonate CEOs asking employees to hand over passwords or routing numbers. Deepfakes can also allow scammers to apply for jobs - and even do them - under an assumed or fake identity. For some, this is a way to access sensitive networks, to steal secrets or to install ransomware. Others just want the work and may be working a few similar jobs at different companies at the same time. Authorities in the US have said that thousands of North Koreans with information technology skills have been dispatched to live abroad, using stolen identities to obtain jobs at tech firms in the US and elsewhere. The workers get access to company networks as well as a paycheck. In some cases, the workers install ransomware that can be later used to extort even more money. The schemes have generated billions of dollars for the North Korean government. Within three years, as many as 1 in 4 job applications are expected to be fake, according to research from Adaptive Security, a cybersecurity company. "We've entered an era where anyone with a laptop and access to an open-source model can convincingly impersonate a real person," said Brian Long, Adaptive's CEO. "It's no longer about hacking systems - it's about hacking trust." Researchers, public policy experts and technology companies are now investigating the best ways of addressing the economic, political and social challenges posed by deepfakes. New regulations could require tech companies to do more to identify, label and potentially remove deepfakes on their platforms. Lawmakers could also impose greater penalties on those who use digital technology to deceive others, if they can be caught. Greater investments in digital literacy could also boost people's immunity to online deception by teaching them ways to spot fake media and avoid falling prey to scammers. The best tool for catching AI may be another AI program, one trained to sniff out the tiny flaws in deepfakes that would go unnoticed by a person. Systems like Pindrop's analyze millions of datapoints in any person's speech to quickly identify irregularities. The system can be used during job interviews or other video conferences to detect if the person is using voice cloning software, for instance. Similar programs may one day be commonplace, running in the background as people chat with colleagues and loved ones online. Someday, deepfakes may go the way of email spam, a technological challenge that once threatened to upend the usefulness of email, said Balasubramaniyan, Pindrop's CEO. "You can take the defeatist view and say we're going to be subservient to disinformation," he said. "But that's not going to happen." (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
