Important Innovations

Targets 2030's To Sell EVs Only Aims for Carbon Free Society Japan's Subaru Corp. just announced that it's targeting the first half of the 2030's to sell only electric cars worldwide.  The automaker has a long term goal of helping to foster a carbon free society.  Subaru's plan is bold and ambitious.  It comes just as Subaru announced an intensified relationship with Toyota to essentially share the costs of developing new technologies for electric and self-driving cars. Detailed Plan Subaru has a series of specific targets it wants to meet in order to go all-electric.  First, it will develop a "strong hybrid" that will include Toyota technologies. The "strong" hybrid is believed to be in concept stage right now. The strong hybrid will complement its current line-up of hybrids and hybrid plugins.  It's also building an all-battery vehicle with Toyota.  Both new vehicles should be available later in this decade. 2030 and Be...

Vehicles Electric and On-Demand Source:  Toyota Electric Car First Market Japan  The Toyota SoftBank electric vehicle alliance now includes Mazda, Suburu, Suzuki, Isuzu and Toyota's compact car unit Daihatsu.  Each will invest $530,620 in the venture called Monet in return for a 2% stake in the EV company.  They join Honda and Hino Trucks, each of which have a 10% stake in the new entity.  Toyota and SoftBank own 35% each in a venture now capitalized at $26.6 million. Big Plans for Monet The group plans to rollout on demand bus and car services next year.  Monet is building up members for its on demand services and  expects to have a service platform for electric vehicles by 2023.  This alliance is a primary example of automakers joining forces to offer vehicle services rather than selling cars and to share the massive investment to develop new electric vehicles.