Latest news with #Aisin
Japan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Toyota Industries receives $33 billion buyout offer from group companies
Toyota Industries said Tuesday it has received a $33 billion offer to take the company private, in a move that could lead to the founding family strengthening its grip over Japan's biggest business empire. The deal will involve a tender offer for the shares of the supplier of textile looms, forklifts and parts for Toyota Motor's cars for ¥16,300 a share, which is 11% below Toyota Industries' closing price on Tuesday. The total amount required for the acquisition by the Toyota Group is around ¥4.7 trillion ($32.9 billion), a company spokesperson said. A new holding company will be established to privatize Toyota Industries, the company said in a statement. Investment in the holding company will include ¥180 billion from Toyoda Fudosan, ¥700 billion from Toyota Motor in the form of nonvoting preferred shares and a personal investment of ¥1 billion from Toyota Motor Chairman Akio Toyoda. A deal, which would rank among the biggest buyouts on record anywhere, would resolve a parent-child structure that has been criticized in the past. It would also be in line with the government's efforts to encourage big companies to unwind cross-held shares with subsidiaries and other businesses. At the same time, a takeover may give Toyoda greater influence over the carmaker founded by his grandfather. In addition to the investments, Toyota Motor and its suppliers Aisin, Denso and Toyota Tsusho will sell their shares in Toyota Industries and acquire their own shares held by Toyota Industries. "This will dissolve the cross-shareholding between Toyota Industries and those four companies, except Toyota Motor will continue to invest in Toyota Industries in the form of preferred shares mentioned above,' it said. Shares in Toyota Industries rose less than 1% in trading in Tokyo on Tuesday. The stock is up more than 40% since the takeover proposal was reported on April 25. Toyota Industries was founded by Toyoda's great-grandfather Sakichi. Sakichi's son Kiichiro went on to found Toyota Motor, which has become the world's biggest carmaker with annual production of more than 11 million vehicles. The parties involved have picked financial advisers and are working toward a tender offer as soon as November, people familiar with the matter have said. A special board committee, created to evaluate the proposal as per government guidelines, is evaluating the buyout proposal by a special purpose vehicle established by Toyoda. Toyota Industries will hold its annual shareholder meeting on June 10, while Toyota Motor's will take place two days later. There's a complex web of cross-shareholdings among Toyota group companies with Toyota Motor holding 24.2% of Toyota Industries' shares, while Toyota Fudosan, a private real estate developer chaired by Toyoda, owns 5.32% of the supplier. Japan is accelerating efforts to unwind such arrangements among companies, aiming to improve corporate governance, enhance transparency and boost shareholder returns. Toyoda's buyout plan comes as Toyota seeks to rebuild trust in its governance after a series of regulatory scandals were uncovered at a pair of subsidiaries that included Toyota Industries.
Time Out
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time Out
Test the latest in accessibility tech at Harajuku Harakado
Shopping and dining in Tokyo can sometimes be daunting without a strong grasp of Japanese, especially when it comes to communicating with store staff. But help may be on the way: At Harajuku's newest landmark, Tokyu Plaza Harajuku 'Harakado', a new pilot project titled 'Subtitles for the World' is happening now. The initiative, realised in partnership with Japanese automotive tech company Aisin, is a 'social experiment' exploring the use of cutting-edge real-time captioning technology and is aimed at bringing about a more inclusive society. Running until May 18, the trial features Aisin's YYSystem transcription app and translucent LCD display tech, which help break down communication barriers for customers with hearing impairments and international visitors alike. The transparent displays, equipped with a microphone and keyboard, visualise speech in real-time on a holographic screen. Impressively, the futuristic devices can also translate speech into over 30 languages. This system, along with tablet versions, has been implemented across 21 establishments in Harakado, including cafés, izakaya, beauty salons and retail shops. To take part in the pilot project, be sure to visit the third-floor 'subtitled information counter' located next to Baby the Coffee Brew Club. There you'll receive a neck strap indicating your specific needs, with tags such as 'I have difficulty hearing' or 'I need English subtitles'. After trying out the transcription services at various stores, don't forget to return to the counter to share your feedback. Participants who complete the post-trial survey will receive a ¥500 gift card to use within the shopping complex.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Toyota Is Struggling to Keep Pace With Its Own Hybrid Success
Toyota has reason to feel proud of its hybrid-focused lineup as demand for gas-electric vehicles is surging globally. Cars like the Prius, RAV4 Plug-In, and Camry have proven the value of the company's strategy. While Toyota initially hedged its bets on electric vehicles, the increased demand for hybrids has presented a new challenge. The automaker and its suppliers are struggling to build enough hybrids to meet the growing number of orders. According to Reuters, one of Toyota's biggest challenges is its limited capacity to produce hybrid-specific parts. Many components for its gas-electric vehicles are made in Japan and shipped globally, but some suppliers are struggling to secure the raw materials needed for production. Aisin, a major Toyota contractor, has faced difficulties producing rotors and stators for hybrid motors due to a global shortage of magnets. Additionally, Denso is experiencing challenges in supplying Toyota with the voltage inverters required for its hybrid vehicles. Toyota has several strategies in place to address the growing global demand for hybrids. In the US, the company is set to start building hybrid components in North Carolina, where a $14 billion battery plant will begin operations later this year. Additionally, Toyota is exploring the possibility of sourcing parts from new suppliers in local markets to reduce pressure on current contractors like Denso and Aisin. For instance, India's rapidly expanding hybrid market could make it a prime location for manufacturing certain components for regional use. The Toyota Camry, which will only be available with a hybrid powertrain starting with the 2025 model year, has gained significant popularity in the US. One unnamed West Coast dealer told Reuters that they rarely have more than a few on the lot at a time. The original Toyota hybrid is in even shorter supply, with Prius hatchbacks completely sold out at the same dealership. The redesigned 2023 Prius has seen a sales resurgence, reversing a long decline as consumers shifted toward Toyota's hybrid crossovers, with 44,711 units sold in 2024—a 16.7 percent increase from the previous year and a 20.6 percent improvement over 2022. In 2024, all of Toyota's gas-electric models saw increased sales compared to 2023, except for the Highlander Hybrid. Among the biggest winners was the Prius Prime, now rebranded as the Prius Plug-In Hybrid, which experienced a 66 percent sales boost. The Camry Hybrid also saw a significant jump, with sales rising from 35,000 in 2023 to 205,000 in 2024. Additionally, the Grand Highlander Hybrid gained popularity, more than doubling its sales in 2024, which helped offset the smaller Highlander Hybrid's 50 percent sales decline. In addition to strong sales in North America, Toyota is seeing rising demand in Europe, particularly for the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid (formerly known as the Prime) and the compact Yaris Cross hybrid. These models have become popular choices among European consumers. In Toyota's home market of Japan, hybrid buyers face long wait times, with some models taking up to five months to arrive. In India, the wait for certain hybrid models can extend to as long as nine months. Source: Reuters
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
View Interior Photos of the 2024 Subaru WRX TR
Read the full review The EyeSight driver-assist system is now standard on all WRX models, including manual-transmission ones like this. The TR is the only manual-transmission 2024 WRX to get these Recaro seats. Fun fact: Reverse is to the right and down in the WRX but left and up in the BRZ because Subaru designed the WRX's transmission but not the BRZ's, which is based on an Aisin design. Now you have something interesting to say at cocktail parties. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
