As the electrification of cars accelerates around the world, an exhibition of the latest EVs = electric vehicles was held in Tokyo.

EVs developed not only by major manufacturers but also by companies in different industries have also appeared and attracted attention.

At the exhibition, Japanese manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and Mazda, as well as overseas manufacturers such as Porsche in Germany and Tesla in the United States exhibited the latest EVs.

Of these, Jaguar in the United Kingdom plans to make all new cars to be sold from 2025, four years later, into EVs, and the first EV of this brand will be introduced at the venue.

Aiming to improve Sony sensor technology No plan to enter the business

In addition, Sony was the only company other than automobile manufacturers to exhibit and open the EV "VISION-S" under development to the public for the first time.



Sony wants to improve sensor technology through the development of EVs, and has no plans to enter the business, but a particularly large number of visitors gathered in the new car and took pictures with a camera.



Izumi Kawanishi, executive officer of Sony, said, "It is very difficult to make a car, but it is important to integrate evolving IT technology, and we would like to proceed with development so that the moving space will be fun. I think the development of cars will increase. "

Successive movements of entry from different industries

In EV = electric vehicles, following the emerging American manufacturer Tesla, there are a series of moves aimed at entering the market from different industries.



Of these, Taiwan's Hong Hai Precision Industry, which is the world's top contract manufacturer of electronic devices and a major shareholder of Sharp, is preparing for full-scale entry into the EV business.



In the middle of this month, we are developing car bodies and motors in collaboration with companies around the world, such as signing a memorandum of cooperation with Nidec, a major electronic component manufacturer of motors.



In addition, the trend is drawing attention as to whether Apple, a major IT company in the United States, will start producing EVs.



In Japan, Idemitsu Kosan, a major oil retailer, will start selling small EVs next year in collaboration with Tajima Motor Corporation, which develops racing cars, and many venture companies are proceeding with development.



Meanwhile, British home appliance maker Dyson, known for its cyclone-type vacuum cleaners, has announced that it will abandon the development of EVs.



EV = electric vehicles do not have gasoline engines and have a small number of parts, so it is technically said that the barrier to new entry is low, but in order to mass-produce and generate stable profits, the cost of batteries etc. is required. The problem is that it is expensive and the selling price of the car is high.

Existing manufacturers Making cars with strengths in terms of safety and durability

On the other hand, existing automobile manufacturers are advancing the production of next-generation vehicles, including EVs, by taking advantage of their technological capabilities related to safety and durability.



The functions to prevent collisions between cars and pedestrians and to soften the impact of collisions are becoming more sophisticated year by year, and recently, cars with enhanced safety functions have become popular.



The durability of the vehicle is also increasing.



According to the organization that manages car registration information, the average age of car use for Japanese passenger cars was 8.7 years 40 years ago, but last year it was 13.5 years, and it is a manufacturer's question whether there are few breakdowns. It also leads to reliability.



Automakers are responding to electrification with an omnidirectional strategy, such as hybrid vehicles and FCV = fuel cell vehicles, as well as EVs, while taking advantage of these technological capabilities related to safety and durability.

Analyst "At a turning point where the industrial structure changes drastically"

Regarding the movement of companies in different industries to enter the market, centered on EV, Takaki Nakanishi, an automobile analyst, said, "The automobile industry is at a turning point where the industrial structure will change drastically, including how to make, use, and utilize cars. The entry of different industries is likely to be a major crustal movement in 20-year increments. "



Specifically, "Service vehicles in the commercial field that carry people and goods will begin to penetrate relatively quickly with vehicles entering different industries. By 2025 to 30 years, they will not have a considerable presence. Is it analyzed?



On the other hand, "Safety has been built by the automobile industry and cannot be easily replaced by technology. Also," connected cars "are the foundation of IoT where all things are connected to the Internet, and society. With time grace in units of 10 or 15 years, automakers can first change to "connected cars" and collect data while expanding the areas they can do. It will be necessary. "