Flying cars, next-gen EVs at Tokyo auto show

KYODO - Next-generation electric vehicles (EVs), flying cars and futuristic robots went on display at the rebranded Tokyo auto show on Wednesday, as automakers joined hands with wide-ranging industries to shine a light on the future of transportation.

The Japan Mobility Show, which opened to the media for a two-day run, features advanced transport technologies ranging from delivery machines to drones and robots. The event has evolved from the biennial Tokyo Motor Show and is being held for the first time in four years after a coronavirus pandemic-induced hiatus.

With a shift to battery-driven vehicles accelerating worldwide, the show comes at a crucial time for Japanese automakers as they seek to catch up with overseas rivals such as Tesla Inc in the development of EVs.

A record 475 companies are participating, with Chinese EV giant BYD Co taking part for the first time. The event will be open to the public from Saturday to Nov 5.

Toyota Motor Corp, the world's largest automaker by volume, unveiled the LF-ZC, a concept model for a next-generation EV under the Lexus brand set for release in 2026. The car is made with next-generation vehicle architecture and state-of-the-art software, the company said.

The new EV has a range of 1,000 kilometres, about double that of RZ, an all-electric model under the Lexus brand currently on sale, while the new software adjusts car characteristics such as acceleration and handling to the driver's preferences, according to the company.

"We are making battery EVs like only a true carmaker can," Toyota President Koji Sato told reporters.

The pioneer in gasoline-electric hybrid cars was once seen as reluctant to embrace all-EVs but is now channelling more resources into EVs under Sato, who has been helming Toyota since April, to increase its green car lineup.

Having sold only 24,000 EVs in 2022, Toyota has pledged to increase the number to 1.5 million in 2026.

Honda Motor Co showcased the Cruise Origin, a self-driving EV jointly developed with General Motors Co. and its Cruise LLC subsidiary.

The vehicle, without a driver's seat or steering wheel, will be used for a driverless taxi service to be launched by the three companies in Tokyo in 2026.

Nissan Motor Co unveiled an all-electric luxury minivan concept. The Nissan Hyper Tourer is designed to run on all-solid-state batteries and is equipped with fully autonomous driving technology.

The vehicle's artificial intelligence (AI) system can monitor the driver's biometric signs and automatically change air conditioning and lighting to fit their mood. When in self-driving mode, its front seats can swivel 360 degrees to allow front and rear seat passengers to have face-to-face interactions.

Unlike many of its Japanese rivals that focused on concept cars, BYD displayed existing EV models that it has already launched inside and outside Japan to offer customers more realistic choices.

The first Chinese carmaker to join the Tokyo auto show exhibited the U8 luxury sport utility vehicle under the high-end Yangwang brand. It also showed the ATTO3 SUV and the Dolphin compact car as well as the Seal sedan, which it plans to sell in Japan next spring.

"We have various vehicles from family cars to premium cars," Liu Xueliang, head of the Japan unit of the Chinese company, said. "We hope to offer a wide range of e-mobility options."

Since BYD entered the Japanese passenger car market earlier this year, it has received 1,300 orders and aims to bring the number to 2,000 by yearend, Atsuki Tofukuji, president of BYD Auto Japan Inc, a BYD unit in charge of auto sales in Japan, said in an interview.

"The Japan Mobility Show is a great chance for us to appeal to customers who don't know about us," Tofukuji said. "We can already show them our latest technologies with our existing cars, so we don't really need concept models. That's our strength."

Transport technologies outside of cars also drew attention at this year's show.

Subaru Corp unveiled the Subaru Air Mobility concept, a flying car under development. The vehicle, which is 6 metres in length and 4.5 metres in width, can be used for transportation in remote areas, President Atsushi Osaki said.

"This is a concept model that shows the future of freer transportation," Osaki said.

"This is a great chance for our aerospace unit and auto unit to work together. We are very excited," he added, without specifying the timing of commercialisation.

Suzuki Motor Corp, which has partnered with domestic air mobility venture SkyDrive Inc. to produce flying cars, exhibited a model of the vehicle it plans to start producing next spring.

Sansei Technologies Inc, a maker of roller coasters, displayed SR-02, a four-legged robot that can walk around like an elephant carrying up to four people on top.

The robot, which is about 3.6 metres in length and about 2.1 metres in height, will serve as an amusement park attraction, the company said.