Japan’s Nidec is building an almost totally “made-in-China” electric car motor to help Toyota compete in the world’s largest auto market https://t.co/pMJ3eJmcSI ...

Tesla's market value of $0.98T surpasses the combined value of Toyota ($271B) and BYD ($138.02B) https://t.co/23NGH1cDt3 ...

Group 1 - Toyota Motor North America announced its participation in the 2025 Rebelle Rally, featuring an external team for the first time alongside 12 internal team members [1][2] - The external team is led by Rachelle Croft and her driving partner Taylor Pawley, who previously won the event in 2019, showcasing their off-road skills [2][3] - The Rebelle Rally will take place from October 8-18, 2025, covering a 2,500-kilometer course through Nevada and California [4] Group 2 - Toyota will serve as the presenting sponsor for the live webcast of the event for the fourth consecutive year, enhancing the experience for remote viewers [3][7] - The company employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. and has a significant manufacturing presence, including a plant in North Carolina that began assembling automotive batteries for electrified vehicles in 2025 [6]

Group 1: Joint Software Development - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. are in discussions to jointly develop and share a foundational software platform for advanced vehicle control systems to compete with leading U.S. and Chinese automakers in the software-defined vehicles (SDVs) market [1][9] - The two companies aim to introduce vehicles utilizing the new software in the latter half of the decade, emphasizing the need for massive data inputs for development and operation, making collaboration crucial for innovation and cost reduction [2] Group 2: Strategic Manufacturing Agreement - Nissan may begin manufacturing pickup trucks for Honda at its U.S. plants under a proposed strategic agreement, allowing Honda to diversify its U.S. vehicle lineup and mitigate the financial impact of new tariffs [5][6] - The proposed manufacturing agreement could enhance profitability for both firms, especially as recent tariff increases on Japanese imports are projected to reduce Honda's operating profit by ¥650 billion and Nissan's by up to ¥450 billion in fiscal 2025 [6]

Core Insights - The S&P 500 has reached a new all-time high, but not all ETFs are performing similarly, with some down by 10% or more from recent peaks [1] - The Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 over the past decade, with a total return of 73% versus 264% for the S&P 500 [3] - The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) has reached a new high but is considered inexpensive compared to U.S. high dividend stocks [7][9] ETF Performance - The Vanguard Real Estate ETF is highly sensitive to interest rates, with higher rates increasing borrowing costs and negatively impacting commercial property values [5] - Experts predict a downward trend in interest rates over the next couple of years, which could benefit the Vanguard Real Estate ETF [6] - The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF holds about 1,550 companies outside the U.S. with a 4.1% dividend yield, including well-known companies like Toyota and Nestle [8] Valuation and Growth - The average stock in the Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF's index has seen earnings growth of 13.7% annually over the past five years and trades at a low valuation of 12 times earnings [9] - In contrast, the U.S. counterpart Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) has an average P/E of over 19 and slower earnings growth [9] - Despite risks associated with international stocks, the significant valuation gap presents a potential buying opportunity [10] Investment Strategy - All three mentioned ETFs are viewed as attractive long-term investments, with expectations of strong performance over the coming years rather than short-term gains [11]

Company Overview - Joby Aviation is a developer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with its first model, the S4, capable of carrying a pilot and four passengers, traveling 100 miles on a single charge, and reaching speeds of 200 mph [4] - The company is also developing a hydrogen-powered version of its aircraft, which charges faster and has a range five times greater than the S4 [4] - Joby is backed by significant investors, including Toyota and Delta Air Lines, and aims to provide a greener alternative to traditional helicopters [5] Financial Performance - Joby Aviation's stock has not performed well since its public debut, trading at approximately $11, up from an opening price of $10.62 [1] - The company generated only $136,000 in revenue from its USAF contract in 2024, with a net loss of $608 million, significantly missing its projected revenue targets [9] - Analysts expect Joby to generate $2 million in revenue in 2025, with a narrowed net loss of $543 million, primarily from its USAF contract [10] Future Prospects - If Joby gains full FAA approval for commercial flights and expands its air taxi services, revenue could increase to $60 million in 2026 and more than triple to $213 million in 2027 [11] - The company holds a $131 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to deliver up to nine eVTOL aircraft, with two already delivered [7] - Joby secured over $1 billion in funding in 2024, ending the latest quarter with $813 million in cash and a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, providing room for further fundraising [13] Market Position - Joby Aviation has a market cap of $9.59 billion, trading at 45 times its projected revenue for 2027, while its competitor Archer Aviation trades at 15 times its projected revenue [14] - The company is seen as potentially too expensive relative to its growth potential and industry peers, raising concerns about its valuation [15]

Let's get back to tariffs where our next guest says the latest moves, the new letters, the new rates signal some concerns about where the trade war is heading. Tobin Marcus is head of US policy and politics at Wolf Research. Tobin, what are you gleaning from this.Because markets are now I think we can say shrugging this off, right. Absolutely. I think the fact that nothing is actually happening for several more weeks is all the explanation that you need for markets continuing to ignore this for now.We've ha ...

Core Argument - The presentation explores the relative value of being perceptive versus being smart, arguing that while both are valuable, perceptiveness offers unique advantages in navigating complexity and anticipating problems [2][4][9][19] - The speaker's personal anecdote illustrates the difference between perception and being perceptive, highlighting how initial impressions can be misleading without considering context [1][2] Survey Results - Initial survey responses showed a correlation between professions and preferred trait: individuals in data-driven fields favored smartness, while those in fields like marketing favored perceptiveness [5] - When asked if perceptive individuals could be taught to fix problems while smart individuals couldn't be taught to see them, approximately 40% of respondents changed their initial answer [6] AI Perspective - AI, when prompted, prioritized being perceptive, citing its ability to understand real-world complexities, ethical dilemmas, and human emotion, which are crucial for societal advancement [7][8][9] - AI argued that smart AI helps solve problems, while perceptive AI helps avoid them, emphasizing the importance of analyzing people, not just data [9] Real-World Applications - The military's "left of bang" theory emphasizes proactive perceptiveness to avoid danger by observing patterns and analyzing behavior [10][11] - Toyota's "Gensi Jambutsu" method encourages managers to personally observe situations and gather firsthand information to make informed decisions [12][13] - Companies like Nike, Amazon, McDonald's, Starbucks, and Apple have adopted similar approaches, demonstrating the effectiveness of prioritizing direct observation and understanding [14] Leadership and Innovation - Steve Jobs is presented as an example of a perceptive leader who understood unmet consumer needs and created innovative products like the iPhone by applying human emotion to technology [15][16] - The presentation suggests that intelligence can create a great product, but perceptiveness can create a great company [16] Cultivating Perceptiveness - While some traits are innate, perceptiveness can be cultivated through practices like observation, considering multiple variables, collaboration, and active listening [17][18] - The speaker advocates for surrounding oneself with the right people to achieve goals, and with smart people to exceed them, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and diverse skill sets [21]

Core Insights - VCI Global Limited has appointed Jane Teh as Chief AI Security Officer, emphasizing its commitment to secure AI infrastructure and long-term shareholder value [1][6] - Jane Teh brings over 20 years of cybersecurity experience, enhancing VCI Global's capabilities in AI security and encrypted data monetization [2][5] - The appointment aligns with the growing demand for secure AI environments amid regulatory changes and rapid AI adoption [5][6] Company Overview - VCI Global is a diversified global holding company focused on AI & Robotics, Fintech, Cybersecurity, Renewable Energy, and Capital Market Consultancy [9] - The company operates across Asia, Europe, and the United States, aiming to drive technological innovation and sustainable growth [9] Leadership and Expertise - Jane Teh has held senior roles in cybersecurity, including Director of Cyber Risk Advisory at Deloitte Southeast Asia and interim CISO at AmBank Group [3][4] - Her expertise includes offensive security, AI-powered threat detection, and sovereign digital defense, making her a valuable asset for VCI Global [2][5] Strategic Initiatives - As CAISO, Jane will lead the development of AI security architecture, focusing on military-grade encryption and enterprise security frameworks [5][6] - The company aims to commercialize encrypted data platforms across regulated markets, addressing the realities of AI risk [6] Product Focus - VCI Global's QuantGold platform is designed for secure, compliant, and privacy-preserving data monetization, leveraging over 120 encryption patents [7][8] - The platform supports a pay-per-compute model, targeting markets in Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, with applications in healthcare, financial services, and AI research [8]

Core Points - Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and its partners are donating over $600,000 for flood relief efforts in Kerr County and the Texas Hill Country following the July 4th flash floods [1][2] - The relief efforts include contributions to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country's Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, matching contributions, in-kind donations, and volunteerism [1][4] Group 1: Donation and Relief Efforts - The donation will support vetted organizations providing rescue, relief, and recovery efforts in affected communities such as Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort [4] - TMNA is implementing a Dealer Match Program, matching contributions from eligible Toyota and Lexus dealers up to $10,000 [6] - Toyota Financial Services (TFS) is offering payment relief options to affected customers, including extensions and deferred payments [5] Group 2: Community Commitment - Gulf States Toyota emphasizes its commitment to supporting local communities during hardships, reflecting the company's roots in Texas [3] - Team members at the San Antonio manufacturing plant are collecting essential supplies and donations to aid ongoing relief efforts [7] - Toyota's ongoing sustainable development commitments include partnerships with organizations like the American Red Cross for disaster response [8] Group 3: Company Overview - Toyota has been a significant presence in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, focusing on sustainable mobility through its brands and dealerships [9] - As of 2025, Toyota employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. and has produced over 35 million vehicles at its manufacturing plants [10] - Toyota Financial Services, with approximately 3,800 employees and over $150 billion in assets, provides finance and related products for Toyota in the U.S. [12][13]