No.4458 EV & Mobility News Digest — Japan & Global (Created April 16, 2026)
https://note.com/aslan_2001
Professional University of Electric Mobility Systems
Summary: During the target period, three trends were prominent in the EV and autonomous driving sectors: "scaling up capital investment," "commercialization of secondary battery use, recycling, and charging networks," and "strategic reviews and digital collaboration by Japanese companies." Uber is reported to be planning to expand its robotaxi investment to the $10 billion scale, and Nissan announced in its long-term vision that it will place AI-defined vehicles (AIDV) at its core, aiming to equip 90% of all models with AI autonomous driving. Isuzu and Toyota agreed to jointly develop Japan's first mass-produced FC small truck, and CATL maintained its battery hegemony by exceeding market expectations for Q1 profits. Meanwhile, the review of Honda's EV strategy has even affected the postponement of Asahi Kasei's Canadian battery materials plant, indicating a chain reaction across the entire supply chain. Moves such as Kanematsu's collaboration in the OTA and in-vehicle communication fields continue to show that the mobility industry is shifting from competition in finished vehicles to comprehensive competition that includes operational infrastructure, power infrastructure, and software infrastructure.
Three Important News Items: ・Uber to expand robotaxi investment to $10 billion scale (Reuters). Uber, a major ride-hailing company, is moving to invest heavily in expanding its partner-based robotaxi network. Reason for selection: It symbolizes that the commercialization of autonomous driving has moved from the demonstration stage to the capital strategy stage. ・Nissan announces long-term vision—focusing on AI and electrification, reducing vehicle models by 20% (Nissan Official/Bloomberg). Aiming to equip 90% of models with AI autonomous driving and optimizing the number of models from 56 to 45. Reason for selection: It is a medium-to-long-term strategic shift for a major Japanese automaker and a significant announcement indicating the direction of electrification and intelligence. ・Impact of Honda's EV strategy review expands, Asahi Kasei postpones new Canadian battery materials plant (Response). The aftermath of Honda's EV strategy revision is spreading to suppliers. Reason for selection: It shows that Japanese companies' EV investment decisions are cascading down to parts and material suppliers.
[EV]
・China's CATL Q1 results exceed expectations, solidifying its lead (Reuters), 2026/4/15, China https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/chinas-catl-posts-slower-profit-growth-first-quarter-2026-04-15/
・Nissan announces long-term vision: Promoting electrification with AI-defined vehicles at the core, new X-Trail e-POWER and Juke EV unveiled for the first time (Nissan Official), 2026/4/14, Japan https://global.nissannews.com/ja-JP/releases/260414-01-j
・Aftermath of Honda's EV strategy review, Asahi Kasei also postpones new Canadian battery materials plant (Response), 2026/4/15, Japan https://response.jp/article/2026/04/15/410094.html
・Lightship expands US electric caravan factory (electrive), 2026/4/15, USA https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/lightship-expands-us-facility-for-electric-caravans/
・Delhi proposes stricter registration limits for new internal combustion engine vehicles (electrive), 2026/4/15, India https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/india-delhi-proposes-stricter-limits-on-new-ice-vehicle-registrations/
・Coca-Cola Deutschland promotes full electrification of its fleet (electrive), 2026/4/15, Germany https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/coca-cola-deutschland-electrifies-entire-fleet/
・Austria's Blaguss integrates a dozen battery-electric coaches (electrive), 2026/4/15, Austria https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/austria-blaguss-integrates-a-dozen-battery-electric-coaches/
・Kia EV2 "First Edition" now eligible for UK's electric car grant (electrive), 2026/4/15, UK https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/kia-ev2-first-edition-now-eligible-for-uks-electric-car-grant/
・BMW pulls US sales of the electric SUV "iX" (electrive), 2026/4/15, USA https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/bmw-pulls-us-sales-of-the-ix/
・Mercedes-Benz launches electric VLE starting from 82,260 euros (electrive), 2026/4/15, Germany https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/mercedes-vle-now-available-from-e82260/
・GAC "AION UT" European specification model unveiled in Milan... 430km range (Response), 2026/4/15, China/Italy https://response.jp/article/2026/04/15/410141.html
・Rolls-Royce announces first ultimate coachbuild "Nightingale"... 5.76m long open EV, limited to 100 units (Response), 2026/4/15, UK https://response.jp/article/2026/04/15/410119.html
・Recruitment for test ride and sales events for urban EV mobility "e-NEO" begins in 47 prefectures (PR TIMES), 2026/4/15, Japan https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000022.000169104.html
・Geely Auto announces AI-equipped "i-HEV" intelligent hybrid (PR TIMES), 2026/4/15, China https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000001.000181734.html
・Suzuki makes additional investment in US-based Glydways to deepen collaboration on small electric vehicles (Response), 2026/4/16, Japan https://response.jp/article/2026/04/16/410147.html
[Autonomous Driving]
・Uber to invest $10 billion in robotaxi strategy shift = FT report (Reuters), 2026/4/15, USA https://www.reuters.com/business/uber-commits-10-billion-robotaxis-strategy-shift-ft-says-2026-04-15/
・Nissan to equip 90% of lineup with AI drive technology—next-generation ProPILOT to be commercialized in Elgrand by the end of FY2027 (Nikkei), 2026/4/14, Japan https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC074VJ0X00C26A4000000/
・Motive deploys network for Toyota-made autonomous vehicles at Raymond West (Automotive World), 2026/4/15, USA https://www.automotiveworld.com/news/motive-deploys-network-for-toyota-avs-at-raymond-west/
・MAMO reaches preliminary agreement on autonomous driving and robotics with China's AIBO (Automotive World), 2026/4/15, UAE/China https://www.automotiveworld.com/news/mamo-strikes-preliminary-av-robotics-deal-with-chinas-aibo/
・Glydways raises $170 million for AV network rollout (Automotive World), 2026/4/15, USA https://www.automotiveworld.com/news/glydways-raises-us170m-series-c-for-av-network-rollout/
・Waymo and Waze begin trial operation of pothole detection using autonomous driving data (Response), 2026/4/15, USA https://response.jp/article/2026/04/15/410120.html
・Bosch and Qualcomm expand strategic collaboration in the ADAS field (Response), 2026/4/15, Germany/USA https://response.jp/article/2026/04/15/410089.html
・Uber Japan launches "Uber Assist," allowing passengers to ride while in a wheelchair (PR TIMES), 2026/4/15, Japan https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000098.000130465.html
[Business Platform]
・Nissan optimizes product portfolio from 56 to 45 models, withdrawing from 11 low-profit models (Bloomberg), 2026/4/14, Japan https://www.bloomberg.com/jp/news/articles/2026-04-14/TDEQ1ZKK3NY800
・Aurora supports depot electrification for UK's Stagecoach (electrive), 2026/4/15, UK https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/aurora-powers-stagecoach-depot-electrification/
・Renault to cut up to 2,400 engineers to adapt to "China Speed" (Automotive World), 2026/4/15, France https://www.automotiveworld.com/news/renault-cuts-up-to-2400-engineers-in-china-speed-campaign/
・Kanematsu to jointly develop in-vehicle TCU/OTA with FCC and Taiwan's KopherBit (Response), 2026/4/15, Japan/Taiwan https://response.jp/article/2026/04/15/410118.html
・Ford establishes new product creation and industrialization organization to scale next-gen vehicles and technology (Business Wire), 2026/4/16, USA https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260415562966/en/Ford-Establishes-New-Product-Creation-and-Industrialization-Organization-to-Scale-Next-Gen-Vehicles-and-Technology
・IMECAR officially launches US operations as a full-stack electrification company (GlobeNewswire), 2026/4/15, USA https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/04/15/3274602/0/en/IMECAR-the-Engineering-Company-Behind-the-2024-Edison-Award-Winning-in-Applied-Technology-Category-Opens-U-S-Operations-as-a-Full-Stack-Electrification-Platform.htmlz
・Tokio Marine & Nichido invests in Premier Aid and forms a capital and business alliance... strengthening emergency response services for "DAP" car insurance with dashcams (Response), 2026/4/15, Japan https://response.jp/article/2026/04/15/410099.html
[Battery Related]
・Isuzu and Toyota decide to jointly develop Japan's first mass-produced FC small truck—equipped with Toyota's 3rd generation FC system, production to start in FY2027 (Toyota Official), 2026/4/15, Japan https://global.toyota/jp/newsroom/corporate/44232917.html
・Automakers find expansion into energy storage system business costly and difficult (Reuters), 2026/4/15, International https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/carmakers-navigating-costly-tricky-transition-battery-storage-systems-2026-04-15/
・BASF and TSR Group collaborate on automotive battery recycling (electrive), 2026/4/15, Germany https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/basf-and-tsr-group-collaborate-on-battery-recycling/
・The Mobility House to offer free electricity to V2G users (electrive), 2026/4/15, Germany https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/the-mobility-house-to-offer-free-electricity-for-v2g-customers/
・IONNA takes over operation of high-speed chargers at US Circle K locations (electrive), 2026/4/15, USA https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/ionna-takes-over-high-speed-chargers-at-circle-k-sites-in-the-us/
・Rivian and Redwood Materials partner on secondary-use battery storage for factories (Automotive World), 2026/4/15, USA https://www.automotiveworld.com/news/rivian-and-redwood-materials-in-energy-storage-tie-up/
・Murata Manufacturing begins mass production of 7 new MLCC models for automotive use (Response), 2026/4/15, Japan https://response.jp/article/2026/04/15/410135.html
・Pre-orders begin for new model of wireless charging system for small AMRs (PR TIMES), 2026/4/15, Japan https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000218.000009609.html
[Demonstration Experiments/Trial Operations]
・Volkswagen unveils new "ID.3 Neo" to the world (InsideEVs), 2026/4/15, Germany https://insideevs.com/news/793040/volkswagen-id3-neo-buttons-back/
・Volvo announces new specifications for large electric truck with over 400 miles of range (InsideEVs), 2026/4/15, Sweden https://insideevs.com/news/793045/volvo-trucks-fh-aero-electric-extended-range/
・Bezos-backed Slate Auto raises $650 million to develop electric pickup (Automotive World), 2026/4/15, USA https://www.automotiveworld.com/news/bezos-backed-slate-auto-raises-us650m-ahead-of-pickup-launch/
・Lucid announces appointment of new CEO and secures additional $750 million (electrive), 2026/4/15, USA https://www.electrive.com/2026/04/15/lucid-appoints-new-ceo-and-secures-additional-750-million/
・Silicon Box joins imec's Automotive Chiplet Program to strengthen chip supply chains for next-generation vehicles (PR Newswire), 2026/4/15, Singapore https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/silicon-box-announces-it-joins-imec-automotive-chiplet-program-to-strengthen-chip-supply-chains-for-next-generation-vehicles-302743181.html
・Experiential exhibition event "LEXUS BEV PLAYGROUND" starts April 17 in Futako-Tamagawa, Tokyo... test rides of the latest RZ also available (Response), 2026/4/14, Japan https://response.jp/article/2026/04/14/410066.html
・SkyDrive's flying car SD-03 and SD-05 design exhibition participates in Toranomon Hills "TOKYOROOMS Exhibition" (Response), 2026/4/15, Japan https://response.jp/article/2026/04/15/410099.html
[Statistics/Surveys]
・US EV market sales in Q1 2026 down 27% year-on-year (InsideEVs), 2026/4/15, USA https://insideevs.com/news/792992/q1-electric-car-sales-2026/
・BMW Group global EV sales down 20% in Q1 (InsideEVs), 2026/4/15, Germany https://insideevs.com/news/793031/bmw-group-ev-sales-down-q1-2026/
・Nissan announces long-term vision, mobility evolution through AI utilization—aiming for 550,000 units in domestic sales by FY2030 (Zaikei Shimbun), 2026/4/15, Japan https://www.zaikei.co.jp/article/20260415/850675.html
[Academic Societies/Symposiums/Seminars, etc.]
・"Current State of Automotive Batteries 2026" online seminar to be held on April 17 (PR TIMES), 2026/4/15, Japan https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000367.000024407.html
・Seminar on reading the winning moves of Japanese companies in the "Robotaxi Competition" to be held on May 21 (Response), 2026/4/15, Japan https://s.response.jp/article/2026/04/15/410101.html
[Commentary/Reports]
・Why is the shared platform strategy for EVs and internal combustion engine vehicles difficult? (InsideEVs), 2026/4/16, USA https://insideevs.com/features/793060/ev-and-gas-car-shared-platform/
・Ford CEO positions Chinese OEMs as a "devastating threat" in the US market (Automotive World), 2026/4/15, USA https://www.automotiveworld.com/topics/e-mobility/fords-farley-now-calls-chinese-oems-devastating-threat-to-us/
Hashtags (Japanese): #EV #ElectricVehicle #AutonomousDriving #Nissan #Toyota #Isuzu #Honda #AsahiKasei #Suzuki #FuelCell #Robotaxi #Uber #CATL #BYD #RollsRoyce #Mercedes #BMW #Ford #Renault #MurataManufacturing #Kanematsu #ADAS #SDV #V2G #BatteryRecycling #HydrogenSociety #CommercialVehicleElectrification #LogisticsDecarbonization #ChargingInfrastructure
