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Craig Trudell
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 16, 2016
Abenomics seen stalling with Toyota pushback against raise
To understand what Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is up against in trying to spring Japan from the deflationary trap stunting its economy, consider the pushback by its most prominent industrialist Akio Toyoda at the wage negotiating table this month.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 2, 2016
Japan's carmakers, airlines believe negative rates will help demand
It will not show up in time for this week's earnings release, but Toyota Motor Corp. may have gotten a gift from the Bank of Japan's unconventional policy choices.
BUSINESS
Jan 13, 2016
Unfazed by turmoil, Nissan joins Starbucks in betting on China
Senior executives from Starbucks Corp. to Nissan Motor Co. and SAP SE are playing down concerns about China's slowdown and further potential depreciation of the yuan, with plans to sell more coffee, cars and software in the world's second-biggest economy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Dec 10, 2015
Lexus races to fill sports coupe gap a decade after SC's demise
What does 2+2 equal? If Lexus is doing the math, its newest model could be the answer.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 7, 2015
Outspoken Takata investor sold all stock after losing trust in management
Takata Corp. has lost the confidence of one of its biggest former shareholders, which said the company cut off access to management and downplayed risks as its air bags spurred a record auto-safety recall.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 30, 2015
Japan's plans to fuel world's cleanest cars hitting road block
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has big plans for Japan to lead the way in clean cars. His bureaucrats are getting in the way.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 6, 2015
Toyota's driverless car is put through paces in Tokyo
Touch a button on the steering wheel and put your hands up — this Toyota will take it from here.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 10, 2015
Golf's slide in Japan sees course owners taking a swing at noncorporate clients
After decades of stagnation and decline, Japan is trying to break the traditional male-dominated elitism of the bubble days and usher in a new era of growth. We're talking about golf.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Aug 6, 2015
Lexus turns to German engineering to create working hoverboard
Imagine, if you will, being handed what looks like a skateboard that almost magically hovers an inch or three above the ground.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Aug 4, 2015
Loeb makes fourth foray in Japan, declares new activists' age
Billionaire Daniel Loeb is starting to make a habit of looking for bargains in Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 22, 2015
New president urges vehicle parts maker Aisin Seiki to change gear
A former Toyota Motor Corp. executive is telling the carmaker's second-biggest supplier to raise its game across its auto parts businesses or risk being benched.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Jul 2, 2015
Loss of Toyota's first female executive is blow to Japan's diversity drive
The resignation of Toyota Motor Corp.'s first female executive, who lasted just 90 days in the job, is a blow to Toyota's drive to make management ranks more international and accepting of female executives.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 15, 2015
Reeling from recalls, Honda again opts for insider as new CEO
Honda Motor Co. is turning to an insider who has spent his entire career at the company to navigate its exit from a global auto safety crisis, after seven people died in its cars.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 9, 2015
Toyota lockup stock draws criticism; some call it bid to tame owners
Hiroki Sampei has a long list of things he does not like about Toyota Motor Corp.'s new class of equity.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
May 8, 2015
Toyota courts mom-and-pop investors with long view
Billionaire investors like Dan Loeb may be heroes on Wall Street, but Toyota Motor Corp. would prefer more people like Hisashi Nakanishi.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 15, 2015
Toyota backs Prius in next-gen auto wars
When Scott Fisher bought his 2006 Prius, there weren't many other choices that gave him use of the carpool lanes on his drive to work in New York. That changed last year when the Long Island lawyer traded in his car for a Honda Accord Hybrid.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 31, 2015
Toyota's recovery revives automaker's hometown
Takako Sugiyama isn't sure how old her two grandchildren's school is. She knows this: the building, in the city of Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, was dated when her three kids — now in their 50s — attended.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 21, 2015
Honda warns against 'stupid' loans driving U.S. sales gains
A top U.S. executive at Honda Motor Co. said competitors are doing "stupid things" to boost auto sales, including making seven-year-long car loans that harm buyers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 27, 2014
Air bag maker in crisis used unique chemical explosive
The emerging crisis over air bags traces back to a little-known Tokyo company that for over 20 years has supplied the safety devices to automakers including Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and General Motors Co.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 25, 2014
Air bag crisis may shift auto market to Daicel, Autoliv
The defect in Takata Corp. air bags linked to four deaths in Honda Motor Co. cars opens the supplier to the risk of losing business in a crucial portion of the market for the safety devices.

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