Core Insights - The 2025 Japan Mobility Show, taking place from October 29 to November 9, represents a significant shift in the Japanese automotive market, focusing on electric vehicle (EV) transformation and consumer demand changes [1][12] - Japanese automakers, including Toyota and Honda, are accelerating their transition towards electric and hybrid vehicles in response to competition from companies like BYD and Tesla [1][12] Group 1: Toyota's Strategy - Toyota will showcase its electric product concepts, including a new Corolla replacement model available in both pure electric and hybrid versions, aligning with its European strategy [3][4] - Lexus plans to unveil a new ES sedan and a six-wheeled LS concept car, indicating a commitment to both electric and luxury segments [3][4] - Toyota is also developing a new independent ultra-luxury brand to compete with Rolls-Royce and Bentley, alongside introducing a new coupe concept under its "Century" series [4] Group 2: Honda's Focus - Honda will present two new electric concept cars, including the third model of its next-generation 0 series electric vehicles, emphasizing small and easy-to-handle electric cars [6][12] Group 3: Nissan's Approach - Nissan will focus on mass production vehicles, introducing the new Elgrand with third-generation e-POWER technology and an upgraded Ariya electric crossover [9][12] - The company aims to showcase its commitment to electrification through various global electric models, including the third-generation Leaf and models developed in collaboration with the Chinese market [9] Group 4: Mazda's Innovations - Mazda will display two concept cars that represent its future design direction and next-generation power systems, including efforts in carbon-neutral fuel and carbon capture technology [11][12] Group 5: Market Trends - Data from JATO Dynamics indicates that the share of pure internal combustion engine vehicles in Japan has fallen below 50% for the first time in 2023, with projections showing a further decline to 42.3% in 2024 [12][15] - The market for hybrid vehicles has stabilized at a penetration rate of 33.8% in the first half of 2025, while pure electric vehicles remain at a low 1.3% [12][15] - The growth in the light vehicle segment is driving the increase in pure electric models, with Japanese consumers showing a willingness to adopt electric products if quality and quantity improve [15] Group 6: Competitive Landscape - BYD plans to introduce a dedicated micro electric vehicle for the Japanese market, indicating its strategy to compete in the unique microcar segment [17] - Hyundai and Kia will also present new electric models at the show, including the Nexo hydrogen fuel cell crossover and electric commercial vehicles, highlighting the competitive landscape in the Japanese EV market [19][20]

Core Viewpoint - Nissan's financial performance for the fiscal year 2024 shows significant declines, with a net sales drop of 0.4% and a net loss of 670.9 billion yen, marking the worst profit performance in over 20 years [2][3] Financial Performance - For the fiscal year 2024, Nissan's consolidated net sales were 12.6 trillion yen (approximately 624.8 billion RMB), a decrease of 0.4% year-on-year [2] - Operating profit fell to 69.8 billion yen (approximately 3.46 billion RMB), down 87.7% year-on-year [2] - The company reported a net loss of 670.9 billion yen (approximately 33.27 billion RMB), compared to a profit of 326.6 billion yen (approximately 16.20 billion RMB) in the previous fiscal year [2] Cash Flow and Restructuring Plans - Nissan's automotive business free cash flow was -242.8 billion yen (approximately -12 billion RMB), with overall free cash flow at -217.5 billion yen, a stark contrast to 148.2 billion yen in the previous fiscal year [2] - The company announced a restructuring plan, "Re:Nissan," aiming to save 500 billion yen in fixed and variable costs by fiscal year 2026 [4] - Nissan plans to reduce its manufacturing bases from 17 to 10 by fiscal year 2027, optimizing efficiency and cutting costs [4] Workforce Reduction - Nissan plans to cut at least 20,000 jobs globally between fiscal years 2024 and 2027, affecting various functions including manufacturing, sales, and management [5] Market Performance - Global sales for Nissan in fiscal year 2024 were 3.2981 million units, a decrease of 4.3% year-on-year [7] - In the Chinese market, sales dropped significantly to 650,700 units, down 18.6% year-on-year, marking the steepest decline in a single market [7][8] Investment in Electric Vehicles - Nissan plans to invest 10 billion RMB in China by the end of 2026, focusing on electric vehicle R&D and infrastructure [9] - The company aims to launch 10 new energy vehicles in the Chinese market by summer 2027, with a focus on enhancing domestic performance and electric vehicle offerings [9][10] Local R&D and Partnerships - Nissan is increasing local R&D capabilities in China, allowing local teams to lead vehicle development while adhering to Nissan's safety standards [10] - The company has partnered with Huawei for smart cockpit development and is collaborating with other tech firms for intelligent driving solutions [10]