PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Mythic announce a joint development agreement in which Honda R&D Co. Ltd., the R&D subsidiary of Honda, will license Mythic's Analog Processing Unit (APU) technology and the companies will co-develop an automotive-grade AI SOC for deployment in Honda's next-generation software-defined vehicles (SDVs) by the late 2020s/early 2030s. In line with Honda's safety approach, Mythic's intelligent, ultra-efficient analog compute-in-me. ...

Honda and DriveOhio Complete Pilot of Nation's First Proactive Roadway Maintenance System Aimed at Creating Safer Roads [Accessibility Statement] Skip Navigation- In the future, crowd-sourced road condition data will empower drivers to play an active role in creating safer and well-maintained roadways in their communities- Automated road condition detection could save ODOT over $4.5 million annually- New system achieved 99% accuracy for damaged and obstructed signs, 93% accuracy for damaged guardrails and a ...

Group 1 - Toyota continues to lead as the global sales champion with a cumulative sales volume of 11.32 million units in 2025, marking a year-on-year growth of 4.63% [3] - Toyota's brand sales, including Lexus, reached 10.54 million units, reflecting a growth of 3.72% [3] - North America was a significant growth driver for Toyota, with sales of 2.93 million units, an increase of 7.31% year-on-year [3] Group 2 - Honda's cumulative sales in 2025 were 3.52 million units, ranking second among Japanese automakers, but down approximately 7.5% from 3.81 million units the previous year [3] - Honda experienced a decline in both production and sales in China, with production down 16.4% and sales down 24.2% [3] Group 3 - Suzuki sold 3.30 million vehicles in 2025, achieving a year-on-year growth of 1.4%, marking its entry into the top three Japanese automakers for the first time in over a decade [3] - In India, Suzuki's sales reached 1.84 million units, accounting for about 56% of its total sales, with Japan being its second-largest market at 729,000 units, representing 22.12% [4] Group 4 - Nissan's global sales in 2025 totaled 3.20 million units, a decline of 4.4% year-on-year, resulting in its exit from the top three Japanese automakers [5] - Nissan faced significant sales declines across all major markets, with a 15.2% drop in Japan, and declines of 7.2% and 6.3% in Europe and China, respectively [5]

Core Viewpoint - GAM portfolio managers are challenging Honda's decision to sell its controlling stake in Yutaka Giken at a significant discount compared to the tender offer for minority shareholders, raising concerns about governance and fiduciary responsibilities [1][4][6]. Group 1: Transaction Details - Honda is selling its 50.65% controlling shareholding in Yutaka Giken for ¥1,470 per share, valuing the entire company at approximately ¥22 billion, while the tender offer for minority shareholders is ¥3,024 per share [3][6]. - The portfolio managers emphasize that a controlling shareholder should receive a premium in transactions, not a 50% discount, highlighting the unusual nature of this sale [3][6]. - The transaction raises questions about whether a proper auction was conducted and the terms of ancillary transactions involving SAMIL, including purchases of Yutaka Autoparts India and an 11% stake in Shinnichi Kogyo directly from Honda [7][8]. Group 2: Governance Concerns - The letter from GAM portfolio managers questions Honda's commitment to its fiduciary responsibilities, suggesting that minority shareholders are not being fully informed about the transaction [4][7]. - There are concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the lack of transparency regarding how Honda will be compensated for selling its stake at a negative implied value [8]. - The portfolio managers call for full transparency in the sales process to understand Honda's rationale for the transaction [8]. Group 3: Treasury Shares and EPS Growth - Honda holds approximately 26% of its shares as treasury shares, which is significantly higher than its peers, raising questions about the company's capital management strategy [9]. - The immediate cancellation of these treasury shares is suggested as a means to enhance earnings per share (EPS) and adhere to best corporate governance practices [9][11]. - Honda's EPS growth has consistently lagged behind competitors, with a 5-year CAGR of 15.6%, compared to Toyota's 19.8% and Suzuki's 24.7% [11].

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Core Insights - The automotive market in China is experiencing a significant shift, with domestic brands like Leap Motor, AITO, Xpeng, and Xiaomi seeing substantial sales growth, while multinational brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche are facing declining sales [1][3] Group 1: Sales Trends of Multinational Brands - Mercedes-Benz and BMW have provided preliminary demand forecasts for 2026, each predicting sales below 500,000 units, a level comparable to their sales in 2016 [1] - Mercedes-Benz's sales in China are projected to drop to 575,000 units in 2025, a decline of 19.5% year-on-year, while BMW's sales are expected to fall to 625,500 units, down 12.5% [2][19] - The decline in sales for these brands reflects a broader trend of losing market share to domestic competitors, with significant drops in brand influence and sales volume [3][19] Group 2: Performance of Other Multinational Brands - Toyota and General Motors are showing stable performance, with Toyota's sales in China exceeding 1.78 million units in 2025, marking a slight increase of 0.23% [3][5] - General Motors reported a notable recovery with sales of 535,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 22.99%, ending a seven-year decline [3][8] Group 3: Challenges Faced by Korean Brands - Korean brands like Hyundai and Kia are struggling, with their market share shrinking from 3.8% in 2020 to 0.9% in 2025 [11] - Hyundai's sales in 2025 are reported at 210,000 units, a 14.8% increase, but this is seen as insufficient given the historical context of their performance [13] - Kia's sales are approximately 254,000 units in 2025, a slight increase of 2.3%, but still far below their peak of 650,000 units in 2016 [14] Group 4: Decline of BBA and Other German Brands - The BBA (Benz, BMW, Audi) group is experiencing significant declines, with Mercedes-Benz's sales dropping from a peak of 774,000 units in 2020 to 575,000 units in 2025 [19][20] - BMW's sales are projected to decrease from 825,000 units in 2023 to 625,500 units in 2025, losing approximately 200,000 units in just two years [20] - Audi's sales are also declining, with projections of 617,500 units in 2025, down 5% from previous years [21] Group 5: Market Dynamics and Consumer Preferences - The shift in consumer preferences is evident, with a growing focus on technology and practical features over brand prestige, impacting the sales of traditional luxury brands [25] - The rapid rise of domestic brands in technology and electric vehicle offerings is reshaping the competitive landscape, making it difficult for multinational brands to maintain their market positions [26]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the decline of Honda Fit, once a popular model, highlighting its recent sales struggles and the implications of its limited release strategy of 3,000 units as a means to manage production and target a specific customer base [4][32][43]. Group 1: Sales Performance - Honda Fit's sales have drastically declined, with only 2,695 units sold in the previous year, marking a 98% drop from its peak sales of 129,000 units in 2018 [26][27]. - The model experienced zero sales in the last two months of the previous year, indicating a significant loss of market interest [7][34]. - The limited release of 3,000 units is seen as a response to the model's inability to compete with both electric vehicles and traditional fuel vehicles in the same price range [32][39]. Group 2: Market Position and Competition - The rise of electric vehicles has eroded Honda Fit's competitive advantages, such as space and driving experience, which are now outmatched by newer models from competitors like Geely and BYD [21][24][30]. - The article notes that even traditional fuel vehicles are now offering better specifications and features than Honda Fit, further diminishing its market appeal [29][30]. Group 3: Strategic Decisions - The limited release strategy is interpreted as a way for Honda to control production capacity and avoid excess inventory, allowing the company to allocate resources to more profitable models [33][35]. - This strategy also aims to refine the customer base, targeting loyal fans who value the brand's heritage rather than price-sensitive consumers [36][39]. - The article suggests that this approach may not significantly boost sales, as the model's value proposition remains weak in the current market context [40][43].

Core Viewpoint - Honda Motor Co. (HMC.US) shares fell over 2% in pre-market trading following the announcement that the fuel cell system manufacturing joint venture with General Motors (GM) will cease production by the end of this year, marking the end of collaboration in this area [1] Group 1: Joint Venture Impact - The decision to stop production was reached after extensive discussions between the two companies, indicating a significant shift in their partnership dynamics [1] - The cessation of the joint venture directly impacts the development prospects of Honda's fuel cell vehicle model, the CR-V e:FCEV, raising concerns about its future [1]

Core Viewpoint - Japanese automakers are collaborating with semiconductor manufacturers to share automotive semiconductor information, aiming to strengthen the supply chain against geopolitical risks and natural disasters [1]. Group 1: Collaboration and Database Development - Approximately 20 suppliers, including Japan's Renesas Electronics and Rohm, as well as Germany's Infineon Technologies, are expected to participate in this initiative [1]. - The plan is projected to cover 80%-90% of the semiconductors used by Japanese automakers, although no Chinese chip manufacturers will be involved [1]. - The initiative will involve registering product specifications, production start dates, and origins to simplify the identification of unstable supply sources [1]. - A blockchain technology will be utilized to prevent information leakage to other automakers [1]. - The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and the Japan Automobile Parts Industry Association are leading the development of the semiconductor database, with a target completion date set for April [1]. Group 2: Importance of Semiconductors in the Automotive Industry - Semiconductors are crucial in various automotive applications, from navigation systems to electric motors, and are vital for production and economic security [1]. - The global chip shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced automotive production [1]. - Honda anticipates that the chip shortage will reduce its operating profit by 150 billion yen (approximately $950 million) for the fiscal year ending March 2026 [1]. Group 3: Understanding Supply Chain Risks - The new system aims to enhance understanding of the risks associated with the sourced chips, enabling quicker responses to geopolitical events or natural disasters that disrupt production [2]. - Non-Japanese automakers can apply to use the system, indicating a broader potential impact on the automotive industry [2]. - The automotive industry is evolving towards autonomous driving and artificial intelligence, increasing the importance of semiconductors [2]. - According to the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, the global automotive semiconductor market is expected to reach approximately $159.4 billion by 2035, growing over 80% from 2025 [2].

Group 1 - The core idea of the article is the establishment of a shared semiconductor information system by the Japan Automobile Parts Industry Association, which aims to stabilize semiconductor procurement for Japanese automakers like Toyota and Renesas Electronics, covering approximately 80-90% of the semiconductor needs [2][5] - The system will allow semiconductor manufacturers to register specifications, production times, and origins, enabling automakers and parts manufacturers to query and understand the supply stability of required semiconductors [6][8] - The automotive industry is facing challenges due to a complex supply chain structure, making it difficult to grasp the overall procurement sources and supply chain status, which this new mechanism aims to address [8] Group 2 - The shared system is expected to include around 20 domestic and international semiconductor companies, such as Renesas Electronics and Infineon Technologies, and will be operated by the Automotive and Battery Traceability Promotion Center [4] - The importance of automotive semiconductors is increasing, especially with the industry's shift towards autonomous driving and artificial intelligence, with the global market size projected to reach approximately $159.4 billion by 2035, an increase of over 80% from about $86.1 billion in 2025 [9] - The initiative aims to mitigate procurement risks associated with key components, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of the automotive industry [9]