Motor
EU sees cleaner trucks, buses in 2013
Under new European Union rules to combat pollution, trucks and buses
rolling off assembly lines this year will produce significantly less
harmful exhaust fumes.
The European Commission said the new norms, known as Euro VI and
replacing standards set in 2008, will cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 80
percent and particulates by 66 percent, while also giving a boost to the
struggling auto sector. "Today's emission reduction will help clean up
the air we breathe and improve the competitiveness of Europe's
automobile industry," said Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani. "We are
creating a win-win situation: we will have cleaner trucks and buses,
which will be trendsetters and exportable worldwide," he added.
Nitrogen oxide and particulates -- micro-particles found typically
when diesel fuel is used -- are major components of vehicle pollution.
The new EU norms are in line with equivalent US emission limits.
AFP
Japanese car sales slump in China on island row
Japan's top three automakers said annual sales in China last year
slumped as a consumer boycott sparked by a nasty Tokyo-Beijing
territorial row took a heavy toll. Nissan -- which has the most exposure
to China of the three -- said sales in the world's biggest vehicle
market last year fell 5.3 percent to 1.18 million units.
"The Sino-Japanese territorial disputes that began in September have
seriously affected Nissan's sales and marketing activities in China," it
said in a statement.
Toyota, Japan's largest automaker, said its China sales in 2012 fell
4.9 percent to 840,000 vehicles, although it forecast a recovery this
year, announcing an annual sales target above 900,000 units. Honda,
meanwhile, said sales in China declined 3.1 percent last year to 598,576
vehicles, its second straight annual decline, after the 2011
quake-tsunami disaster battered Japanese manufacturers' results.
A long-standing diplomatic dispute flared badly in mid-September
after Tokyo nationalised East China Sea islands also claimed by Beijing,
sparking huge protests across China and boycotts of Japanese products.
The row over the Tokyo-controlled islands, known as Diaoyu in China
and Senkaku in Japan, hurt Japanese automakers with operations in the
country while boosting demand for other foreign brands.
Japan's top three carmakers, which all have manufacturing facilities
in China, scaled back production as sales slumped.
Despite predictions of a bounce back this year, there are plenty of
uncertainties that may slow a recovery including new governments in
China and Japan, said Tatsuya Mizuno, auto analyst at Mizuno Credit
Advisory.
"It appears that Japanese auto sales are on course to recover in
China, but no one knows when the dispute will flare up again -- nothing
has been resolved," Mizuno said.
"There is also concern about the future of the Chinese economy.
The prospects for a full recovery of Japanese cars in China are still
obscure."
AFP
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Locally made electric car “Angkor EV
2013” sits on display at a showroom in Phnom Penh on January
8, 2013. Cambodias Heng Development Company has unvveilled
its first electric-powered car branded “Angkor”, named after
the countrys famed ancient Angkor temples, which has a top
speed of 60 kilometres per hour and was designed by local
innovator Nhean Phaloek. AFP |
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