LEAD IN:

Japanese auto brand Toyota has showcased the second generation of its hydrogen fuel cell saloon car in the Netherlands.

The all-new Mirai claims a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling and is set for launch this year in Japan, North America and Europe. But lack of infrastructure persists.

STORY-LINE:

While most of the auto industry hurtles toward battery-electric vehicles, Japan's top car maker is also banking on hydrogen.

At an event in Amsterdam, Toyota is showing off its second generation Mirai fuel cell saloon, due for launch later this year in Japan, North America and Europe.

This version claims up to 30 percent more range thanks to a redesigned fuel cell system and new three-tank layout.

According to communications executive Vincent Dewaersegger, that means a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling.

"It's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank," he says.

"And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

Toyota first introduced its hydrogen-powered Mirai sedan back in 2014 and has since sold 10,000 models.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

The main challenge is a lack of infrastructure. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), there are currently just 125 hydrogen stations in the EU.

Toyota is also showing off its new RAV4 plug-in hybrid in Amsterdam.

It's the fifth generation of the popular SUV and the first to offer a plug-in hybrid option.

Toyota luxury brand Lexus is showcasing a future vision of electric cars with this LF-30 concept car.

The LF-30 offers a vision of electric mobility in the 2030s with autonomous driving technologies and four in-wheel electric motors.

A steer-by-wire system eliminates mechanical connections, allowing more flexible control.

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is," says designer Ian Cartabiano.

"So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle."

Lexus is also presenting the UX 300e, its first electric vehicle.

Its 54.3 kWh lithium-ion battery claims a range of 400 kilometres and a top speed of 160 kilometres per-hour.

Toyota's new GR Supra runs on traditional petrol.

With the new two-litre version, Toyota says it has lessened the weight, meaning a different driving experience.

"The biggest difference is the weight," says marketing executive Tatsuya Namura.

"There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

Toyota also used the Amsterdam event to launch its new high-tech mobility brand, Kinto.

Under pressure from rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, Toyota is planning to offer car-sharing and ride-hailing services through Kinto.

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet," says Johan van Zyl, the president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe.

"So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

Amsterdam, Netherlands - 14 January 2020

1. Wide of screen, showing promo for new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

2. Various of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Vincent Dewaersegger, Communications Executive, Toyota:

"The platform has been designed from the beginning for hydrogen component, so we could really have much more freedom in terms of styling, and we could have this kind of a coupe-like styling. Also, it's a new technology, more efficient and also, we have more tank capacity, more tanks. So that means the two together, we can really increase the range by 30 percent. So, it's quite, for me, it's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank. And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

4. Mid of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

5. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's hydrogen tanks

6. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's range and refuelling time

7. Wide of new Toyota Mirai

8. Various of new Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid SUV

9. Various of new Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

10. Setup shot of Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer, opening LF-30 door

11. Close of Lexus LF-30 interior

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer:

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is. So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle. And personally, I really love the profile and I love the shape language of this car. I love how it moves from fluid to extremely sharp at the rear and to me as the artist, that gets me excited."

13. Wide of Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

14. Various of Lexus UX300e electric car

15. Various of new Toyota GR Supra

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Tatsuya Namura, Marketing Executive, Toyota:

"The biggest difference is the weight. There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

17. Close of new Toyota GR Supra interior

18. Mid of new Toyota GR Supra

19. Wide of Toyota presentation, announcement of Kinto brand

20. Close of Kinto logo onscreen

21. Setup shot of Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, speaking during presentation

22. Wide of screen, reading (English): "Mobility for All"

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe:

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet. So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

24. Various of Toyota LQ concept car

25. Various of Toyota personal mobility technology

LEAD IN:

Japanese auto brand Toyota has showcased the second generation of its hydrogen fuel cell saloon car in the Netherlands.

The all-new Mirai claims a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling and is set for launch this year in Japan, North America and Europe. But lack of infrastructure persists.

STORY-LINE:

While most of the auto industry hurtles toward battery-electric vehicles, Japan's top car maker is also banking on hydrogen.

At an event in Amsterdam, Toyota is showing off its second generation Mirai fuel cell saloon, due for launch later this year in Japan, North America and Europe.

This version claims up to 30 percent more range thanks to a redesigned fuel cell system and new three-tank layout.

According to communications executive Vincent Dewaersegger, that means a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling.

"It's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank," he says.

"And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

Toyota first introduced its hydrogen-powered Mirai sedan back in 2014 and has since sold 10,000 models.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

The main challenge is a lack of infrastructure. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), there are currently just 125 hydrogen stations in the EU.

Toyota is also showing off its new RAV4 plug-in hybrid in Amsterdam.

It's the fifth generation of the popular SUV and the first to offer a plug-in hybrid option.

Toyota luxury brand Lexus is showcasing a future vision of electric cars with this LF-30 concept car.

The LF-30 offers a vision of electric mobility in the 2030s with autonomous driving technologies and four in-wheel electric motors.

A steer-by-wire system eliminates mechanical connections, allowing more flexible control.

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is," says designer Ian Cartabiano.

"So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle."

Lexus is also presenting the UX 300e, its first electric vehicle.

Its 54.3 kWh lithium-ion battery claims a range of 400 kilometres and a top speed of 160 kilometres per-hour.

Toyota's new GR Supra runs on traditional petrol.

With the new two-litre version, Toyota says it has lessened the weight, meaning a different driving experience.

"The biggest difference is the weight," says marketing executive Tatsuya Namura.

"There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

Toyota also used the Amsterdam event to launch its new high-tech mobility brand, Kinto.

Under pressure from rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, Toyota is planning to offer car-sharing and ride-hailing services through Kinto.

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet," says Johan van Zyl, the president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe.

"So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

Amsterdam, Netherlands - 14 January 2020

1. Wide of screen, showing promo for new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

2. Various of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Vincent Dewaersegger, Communications Executive, Toyota:

"The platform has been designed from the beginning for hydrogen component, so we could really have much more freedom in terms of styling, and we could have this kind of a coupe-like styling. Also, it's a new technology, more efficient and also, we have more tank capacity, more tanks. So that means the two together, we can really increase the range by 30 percent. So, it's quite, for me, it's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank. And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

4. Mid of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

5. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's hydrogen tanks

6. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's range and refuelling time

7. Wide of new Toyota Mirai

8. Various of new Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid SUV

9. Various of new Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

10. Setup shot of Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer, opening LF-30 door

11. Close of Lexus LF-30 interior

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer:

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is. So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle. And personally, I really love the profile and I love the shape language of this car. I love how it moves from fluid to extremely sharp at the rear and to me as the artist, that gets me excited."

13. Wide of Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

14. Various of Lexus UX300e electric car

15. Various of new Toyota GR Supra

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Tatsuya Namura, Marketing Executive, Toyota:

"The biggest difference is the weight. There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

17. Close of new Toyota GR Supra interior

18. Mid of new Toyota GR Supra

19. Wide of Toyota presentation, announcement of Kinto brand

20. Close of Kinto logo onscreen

21. Setup shot of Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, speaking during presentation

22. Wide of screen, reading (English): "Mobility for All"

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe:

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet. So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

24. Various of Toyota LQ concept car

25. Various of Toyota personal mobility technology

LEAD IN:

Japanese auto brand Toyota has showcased the second generation of its hydrogen fuel cell saloon car in the Netherlands.

The all-new Mirai claims a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling and is set for launch this year in Japan, North America and Europe. But lack of infrastructure persists.

STORY-LINE:

While most of the auto industry hurtles toward battery-electric vehicles, Japan's top car maker is also banking on hydrogen.

At an event in Amsterdam, Toyota is showing off its second generation Mirai fuel cell saloon, due for launch later this year in Japan, North America and Europe.

This version claims up to 30 percent more range thanks to a redesigned fuel cell system and new three-tank layout.

According to communications executive Vincent Dewaersegger, that means a range of 650 kilometres without refuelling.

"It's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank," he says.

"And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

Toyota first introduced its hydrogen-powered Mirai sedan back in 2014 and has since sold 10,000 models.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

The main challenge is a lack of infrastructure. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), there are currently just 125 hydrogen stations in the EU.

Toyota is also showing off its new RAV4 plug-in hybrid in Amsterdam.

It's the fifth generation of the popular SUV and the first to offer a plug-in hybrid option.

Toyota luxury brand Lexus is showcasing a future vision of electric cars with this LF-30 concept car.

The LF-30 offers a vision of electric mobility in the 2030s with autonomous driving technologies and four in-wheel electric motors.

A steer-by-wire system eliminates mechanical connections, allowing more flexible control.

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is," says designer Ian Cartabiano.

"So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle."

Lexus is also presenting the UX 300e, its first electric vehicle.

Its 54.3 kWh lithium-ion battery claims a range of 400 kilometres and a top speed of 160 kilometres per-hour.

Toyota's new GR Supra runs on traditional petrol.

With the new two-litre version, Toyota says it has lessened the weight, meaning a different driving experience.

"The biggest difference is the weight," says marketing executive Tatsuya Namura.

"There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

Toyota also used the Amsterdam event to launch its new high-tech mobility brand, Kinto.

Under pressure from rideshare companies Uber and Lyft, Toyota is planning to offer car-sharing and ride-hailing services through Kinto.

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet," says Johan van Zyl, the president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe.

"So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

Amsterdam, Netherlands - 14 January 2020

1. Wide of screen, showing promo for new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

2. Various of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Vincent Dewaersegger, Communications Executive, Toyota:

"The platform has been designed from the beginning for hydrogen component, so we could really have much more freedom in terms of styling, and we could have this kind of a coupe-like styling. Also, it's a new technology, more efficient and also, we have more tank capacity, more tanks. So that means the two together, we can really increase the range by 30 percent. So, it's quite, for me, it's a small revolution, it can do 650 kilometres in one tank. And you should remember, it's five minutes to refuel for a hundred percent refuel-refill, which is very good."

4. Mid of new Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell car

5. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's hydrogen tanks

6. Mid of screen, showing new Toyota Mirai's range and refuelling time

7. Wide of new Toyota Mirai

8. Various of new Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid SUV

9. Various of new Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

10. Setup shot of Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer, opening LF-30 door

11. Close of Lexus LF-30 interior

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ian Cartabiano, LF-30 Chief Designer:

"It's not easy to define what type of car this is. So, it's somewhere in between sedan, coupe, crossover, ultimate luxury car. I'm excited by the fact that we created a new category of luxury performance vehicle. And personally, I really love the profile and I love the shape language of this car. I love how it moves from fluid to extremely sharp at the rear and to me as the artist, that gets me excited."

13. Wide of Lexus LF-30 electric concept car

14. Various of Lexus UX300e electric car

15. Various of new Toyota GR Supra

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Tatsuya Namura, Marketing Executive, Toyota:

"The biggest difference is the weight. There's a reduction of 100 kilograms, which really influences how the car drives and how you feel the car is driving."

17. Close of new Toyota GR Supra interior

18. Mid of new Toyota GR Supra

19. Wide of Toyota presentation, announcement of Kinto brand

20. Close of Kinto logo onscreen

21. Setup shot of Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe, speaking during presentation

22. Wide of screen, reading (English): "Mobility for All"

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe:

"These customers of the future don't just want to own vehicles, they want to use them, some people want to just lease them, don't put them on their balance sheet. So therefore, we also need to ensure that we will be able to deliver on the new mobility services to customers and that we've launched today the Kinto brand, which is (an) umbrella brand for all the mobility services we're going to launch in Europe in future."

24. Various of Toyota LQ concept car

25. Various of Toyota personal mobility technology

LEADIN:

Toyota is banking on hydrogen fuel cells to achieve its goal of zero-emissions by 2050.

While electric vehicles that run on batteries are best suited for short urban commutes, Toyota believes hydrogen is the more practical energy choice of the future.

STORYLINE:

At the Motomachi car factory in this city named after Toyota, the usual robots with their swinging arms are missing.

Instead, workers intently fit parts into place by hand with craftsmanship-like care.

The big moment on the assembly line comes when bulbous yellow tanks of hydrogen are rolled over and delicately fitted into each car's underside.

While much of the world is going gung-ho for electric vehicles to help get rid of auto emissions and end reliance on fossil fuels, Japan's top automaker Toyota Motor Corp. is banking on hydrogen.

Toyota sells about 10 million vehicles a year around the world. It has sold only about 4,000 Mirai fuel cell vehicles since late 2014, roughly half of them outside Japan.

The Mirai, which means "future," is not cheap at 57,500 US dollars but Toyota loses money on each one. Still, the company's goal is to sell 30,000 fuel-cell vehicles a year by about 2020.

Toyota's chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada, believes hydrogen is an ideal, stable fuel for a future low-carbon society.

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential," says Uchiyamada, known as "the father of the Prius," the world's top-selling hybrid car.

The Prius turned out to be a good bet for Toyota. The Mirai could be the same.

Hydrogen fuel cells don't suffer from limited range drawbacks of many electric vehicles. The Mirai can run for 312 miles (502 kilometers) per fuelling, under U.S. EPA conditions, and fuels as quickly as a regular car.

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)," says Uchiyamada.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

Producing the highly flammable gas and getting it into the vehicles requires energy. Ultimately, the idea is to convert energy from renewables like wind and solar power into hydrogen, or even make hydrogen from sewage waste.

Unlike a gas-powered internal combustion engine, the only byproducts from a fuel cell are electricity, heat and water. There are no emissions of pollutants that can cause global warming. Yet the energy unleashed is powerful: Hydrogen is the fuel that sends NASA rockets into space.

So fuel cells could be used to power cars, trains, buses, trucks and forklifts, and to provide electricity and heat for homes.

Detroit-based General Motors Co., Mercedes-Benz of Germany, Japan's Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai of South Korea have also developed fuel cell vehicles that are on the roads in extremely limited numbers.

The global stock of electric vehicles will soon surpass 2 million, according to the International Energy Agency. It's projected to climb to between 9 million-20 million by 2020. Fuel cell vehicles are scarcely a presence.

The Hydrogen Council, made up of 28 companies that are promoting hydrogen fuel, said in a report this week that it expects hydrogen to power about 10 to 15 million cars and 500,000 trucks by 2030. It also forecasts it will be widely used for industries, heating and power and power storage.

The group met this week in Bonn, on the sidelines of the COP23 U.N. meeting on the environment.

Joseph Capparella, a reporter from Car and Driver magazine covered Toyota's concept fuel cell vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show last month.

He says the concept seems "possible" if the costs are reduced and the technology can be mass produced.

"So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle," says Capparella.

Toyota and other manufacturers pursuing hydrogen fuel cells face some significant hurdles. Japan has an ample 28,000 EV (electric vehicle) charging stations but only 92 hydrogen fuelling stations, and they are costly to build.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers," says Uchiyamada.

For many automakers, fuel cells are an area just for research, while EVs already are commercialised.

But Toyota's push towards hydrogen power could drive the technology to one day become mainstream.

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

1. Wide of hydrogen tank being placed into Mirai vehicle on assembly line

2. Close of workers fixing the tank

Tokyo, Japan – 18 November 2014

3. Various of the first model of Mirai on test run

4. Various of the display of how hydrogen works inside Mirai

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

5. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada looking at manufacturing process of Mirai

6. Close of the shirt of a worker, reading: (English) "Challenge Zero Emission 2050"

7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential."

8. Wide of hydrogen tank being towed inside the plant

9. Mid of hydrogen tank being filled

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.: ++audio as incoming++

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)."

Tokyo, Japan – 25 October 2017

11. Setup shot of Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine:

"I think it will depend a lot on if automakers are able to get the cost down because right now the technology is very expensive and difficult to develop. But, I think it's in its early stages. So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle."

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

13. Assembly line worker

14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers."

Tokyo, Japan – 14 November 2017

15. Various of Mirai being filled up at Hydrogen station

LEADIN:

Toyota is banking on hydrogen fuel cells to achieve its goal of zero-emissions by 2050.

While electric vehicles that run on batteries are best suited for short urban commutes, Toyota believes hydrogen is the more practical energy choice of the future.

STORYLINE:

At the Motomachi car factory in this city named after Toyota, the usual robots with their swinging arms are missing.

Instead, workers intently fit parts into place by hand with craftsmanship-like care.

The big moment on the assembly line comes when bulbous yellow tanks of hydrogen are rolled over and delicately fitted into each car's underside.

While much of the world is going gung-ho for electric vehicles to help get rid of auto emissions and end reliance on fossil fuels, Japan's top automaker Toyota Motor Corp. is banking on hydrogen.

Toyota sells about 10 million vehicles a year around the world. It has sold only about 4,000 Mirai fuel cell vehicles since late 2014, roughly half of them outside Japan.

The Mirai, which means "future," is not cheap at 57,500 US dollars but Toyota loses money on each one. Still, the company's goal is to sell 30,000 fuel-cell vehicles a year by about 2020.

Toyota's chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada, believes hydrogen is an ideal, stable fuel for a future low-carbon society.

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential," says Uchiyamada, known as "the father of the Prius," the world's top-selling hybrid car.

The Prius turned out to be a good bet for Toyota. The Mirai could be the same.

Hydrogen fuel cells don't suffer from limited range drawbacks of many electric vehicles. The Mirai can run for 312 miles (502 kilometers) per fuelling, under U.S. EPA conditions, and fuels as quickly as a regular car.

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)," says Uchiyamada.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

Producing the highly flammable gas and getting it into the vehicles requires energy. Ultimately, the idea is to convert energy from renewables like wind and solar power into hydrogen, or even make hydrogen from sewage waste.

Unlike a gas-powered internal combustion engine, the only byproducts from a fuel cell are electricity, heat and water. There are no emissions of pollutants that can cause global warming. Yet the energy unleashed is powerful: Hydrogen is the fuel that sends NASA rockets into space.

So fuel cells could be used to power cars, trains, buses, trucks and forklifts, and to provide electricity and heat for homes.

Detroit-based General Motors Co., Mercedes-Benz of Germany, Japan's Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai of South Korea have also developed fuel cell vehicles that are on the roads in extremely limited numbers.

The global stock of electric vehicles will soon surpass 2 million, according to the International Energy Agency. It's projected to climb to between 9 million-20 million by 2020. Fuel cell vehicles are scarcely a presence.

The Hydrogen Council, made up of 28 companies that are promoting hydrogen fuel, said in a report this week that it expects hydrogen to power about 10 to 15 million cars and 500,000 trucks by 2030. It also forecasts it will be widely used for industries, heating and power and power storage.

The group met this week in Bonn, on the sidelines of the COP23 U.N. meeting on the environment.

Joseph Capparella, a reporter from Car and Driver magazine covered Toyota's concept fuel cell vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show last month.

He says the concept seems "possible" if the costs are reduced and the technology can be mass produced.

"So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle," says Capparella.

Toyota and other manufacturers pursuing hydrogen fuel cells face some significant hurdles. Japan has an ample 28,000 EV (electric vehicle) charging stations but only 92 hydrogen fuelling stations, and they are costly to build.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers," says Uchiyamada.

For many automakers, fuel cells are an area just for research, while EVs already are commercialised.

But Toyota's push towards hydrogen power could drive the technology to one day become mainstream.

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

1. Wide of hydrogen tank being placed into Mirai vehicle on assembly line

2. Close of workers fixing the tank

Y

Tokyo, Japan – 18 November 2014

3. Various of the first model of Mirai on test run

4. Various of the display of how hydrogen works inside Mirai

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

5. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada looking at manufacturing process of Mirai

6. Close of the shirt of a worker, reading: (English) "Challenge Zero Emission 2050"

7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential."

8. Wide of hydrogen tank being towed inside the plant

9. Mid of hydrogen tank being filled

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.: ++audio as incoming++

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)."

Tokyo, Japan – 25 October 2017

11. Setup shot of Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine:

"I think it will depend a lot on if automakers are able to get the cost down because right now the technology is very expensive and difficult to develop. But, I think it's in its early stages. So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle."

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

13. Assembly line worker

14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers."

Tokyo, Japan – 14 November 2017

15. Various of Mirai being filled up at Hydrogen station

LEADIN:

Toyota is banking on hydrogen fuel cells to achieve its goal of zero-emissions by 2050.

While electric vehicles that run on batteries are best suited for short urban commutes, Toyota believes hydrogen is the more practical energy choice of the future.

STORYLINE:

At the Motomachi car factory in this city named after Toyota, the usual robots with their swinging arms are missing.

Instead, workers intently fit parts into place by hand with craftsmanship-like care.

The big moment on the assembly line comes when bulbous yellow tanks of hydrogen are rolled over and delicately fitted into each car's underside.

While much of the world is going gung-ho for electric vehicles to help get rid of auto emissions and end reliance on fossil fuels, Japan's top automaker Toyota Motor Corp. is banking on hydrogen.

Toyota sells about 10 million vehicles a year around the world. It has sold only about 4,000 Mirai fuel cell vehicles since late 2014, roughly half of them outside Japan.

The Mirai, which means "future," is not cheap at 57,500 US dollars but Toyota loses money on each one. Still, the company's goal is to sell 30,000 fuel-cell vehicles a year by about 2020.

Toyota's chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada, believes hydrogen is an ideal, stable fuel for a future low-carbon society.

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential," says Uchiyamada, known as "the father of the Prius," the world's top-selling hybrid car.

The Prius turned out to be a good bet for Toyota. The Mirai could be the same.

Hydrogen fuel cells don't suffer from limited range drawbacks of many electric vehicles. The Mirai can run for 312 miles (502 kilometers) per fuelling, under U.S. EPA conditions, and fuels as quickly as a regular car.

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)," says Uchiyamada.

A fuel cell mixes hydrogen with the oxygen in the air to generate electricity that can power a motor.

Producing the highly flammable gas and getting it into the vehicles requires energy. Ultimately, the idea is to convert energy from renewables like wind and solar power into hydrogen, or even make hydrogen from sewage waste.

Unlike a gas-powered internal combustion engine, the only byproducts from a fuel cell are electricity, heat and water. There are no emissions of pollutants that can cause global warming. Yet the energy unleashed is powerful: Hydrogen is the fuel that sends NASA rockets into space.

So fuel cells could be used to power cars, trains, buses, trucks and forklifts, and to provide electricity and heat for homes.

Detroit-based General Motors Co., Mercedes-Benz of Germany, Japan's Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai of South Korea have also developed fuel cell vehicles that are on the roads in extremely limited numbers.

The global stock of electric vehicles will soon surpass 2 million, according to the International Energy Agency. It's projected to climb to between 9 million-20 million by 2020. Fuel cell vehicles are scarcely a presence.

The Hydrogen Council, made up of 28 companies that are promoting hydrogen fuel, said in a report this week that it expects hydrogen to power about 10 to 15 million cars and 500,000 trucks by 2030. It also forecasts it will be widely used for industries, heating and power and power storage.

The group met this week in Bonn, on the sidelines of the COP23 U.N. meeting on the environment.

Joseph Capparella, a reporter from Car and Driver magazine covered Toyota's concept fuel cell vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show last month.

He says the concept seems "possible" if the costs are reduced and the technology can be mass produced.

"So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle," says Capparella.

Toyota and other manufacturers pursuing hydrogen fuel cells face some significant hurdles. Japan has an ample 28,000 EV (electric vehicle) charging stations but only 92 hydrogen fuelling stations, and they are costly to build.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers," says Uchiyamada.

For many automakers, fuel cells are an area just for research, while EVs already are commercialised.

But Toyota's push towards hydrogen power could drive the technology to one day become mainstream.

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

1. Wide of hydrogen tank being placed into Mirai vehicle on assembly line

2. Close of workers fixing the tank

Y

Tokyo, Japan – 18 November 2014

3. Various of the first model of Mirai on test run

4. Various of the display of how hydrogen works inside Mirai

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

5. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada looking at manufacturing process of Mirai

6. Close of the shirt of a worker, reading: (English) "Challenge Zero Emission 2050"

7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"Upon thinking of what will become the energy of the future, we have been debating both within Japan and internationally about what kind of energy should be our option. There are two main points we need to consider. First, how to realize a low-carbon society to create a society with less CO2 emissions. The second point is to ensure a stable energy supply for the future. In this light, hydrogen holds tremendous potential."

8. Wide of hydrogen tank being towed inside the plant

9. Mid of hydrogen tank being filled

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.: ++audio as incoming++

"It (Hydrogen FCV) certainly has more convenience for users (in comparison to electric vehicles), meaning driving range is much longer and there is not much of difference in time to fill in hydrogen with the conventional gasoline cars. I think that is one of the major features (for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles)."

Tokyo, Japan – 25 October 2017

11. Setup shot of Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Joseph Capparella, Car and Driver magazine:

"I think it will depend a lot on if automakers are able to get the cost down because right now the technology is very expensive and difficult to develop. But, I think it's in its early stages. So, you know, it seems to be possible if it could be streamlined into a more affordable and mass producible technology then, it might be able to catch on but it's hard to say because our society is so deeply entrenched in, what we already know, which is gasoline and electric. So, to enact such a broad shift in the mind of consumers, I think it's a difficult obstacle."

Toyota city, Aichi Prefecture, Japan – 30 October 2017

13. Assembly line worker

14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corp.

"Hydrogen society is something all the players need to work together in order to create it. So, it will need lots of fathers and mothers."

Tokyo, Japan – 14 November 2017

15. Various of Mirai being filled up at Hydrogen station

Japan's No. 1 automaker Toyota Motor and technology giant SoftBank Group are setting up a joint venture to create mobility services in what they called a "united Japan" effort to face global competition.

The 2 billion yen (20 million US dollars) venture, Monet Technologies Corp. is meant to be running by the end of March.

It will work on on-demand vehicle services, food deliveries, data analysis and hospital shuttles with onboard medical exams, the companies said Thursday in a news conference at a Tokyo hotel.

The energy and telecoms company's past tie-ups have tended to be with overseas startups.

But Softbank has also invested in leading car-sharing companies like Uber, Didi and Grab, and has acquired Arm, a leader in the Internet of Things, or IoT.

Toyoda stressed the auto industry was changing in an era of connected cars, autonomous driving, car-sharing and electric vehicles.

SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son said he was thrilled to be partnering with a top automaker on mobility and artificial intelligence, his company's expertise.

The joint venture's services will roll out in Japan first, but a global expansion is in the works, the companies said. It's 50.25 percent owned by SoftBank, 49.75 percent by Toyota.

Toyota is developing autonomous vehicles in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Monet plans to roll out a business featuring autonomous vehicle services by the second half of 2020, they said.

Automakers around the world are forming tie-ups in the race to develop the next-generation of transportation, such as self-driving cars.

4 October 2018 – Tokyo, Japan

1. Wide of Masayoshi Son, Chairman, Softbank, walking onto stage

2. Wide of joint press conference

3. Mid of Son talking

4. Wide of audience

5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Masayoshi Son, Chairman, Softbank:

"Toyota is number one in the world in area of mobility and Softbank is putting more emphasis on AI (artificial intelligence). This partnership between the two companies will give birth to a new era of mobility, something that hasn't been seen yet and I have a feeling that mobility will evolve."

6. Wide of Son talking

7. Close of people taking photos

8. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Masayoshi Son, Chairman, Softbank:

"This time, we partnered with Toyota and I think that the Monet's service will be carried out while utilizing technology that Toyota will develop for autonomous driving."

9. Wide of Akio Toyoda, Chief Executive, Toyota, walking onto stage and shaking hands with Son

10. Mid of people taking photos

11. Wide of Toyoda talking

12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, Chief Executive, Toyota:

"Softbank is working with many teams trying to create new mobility services and to create a more exciting mobility society. I believe that the cooperation between the two companies will be an alliance to make the future mobility society a reality by incorporating these teams."

13. Wide of Toyoda talking

14. Close of people taking photos

15. Tilt down from logo to photo session of Son (left) and Toyoda (right) in the middle

16. Wide of photo session

17. Close of people taking photos

18. Close of photo session and Son and Toyoda shaking hands

LEAD IN:

Japan's Toyota Motor Corporation is best known for cars, but at CES in Las Vegas, the company has unveiled an ambitious new venture in urban planning.

Toyota says it will build a futurist new city on land in the shadow of Mount Fuji, and it plans to use the prototype town to test A-I, autonomous vehicles, and new forms of 21st century living.

STORY-LINE:

It's Toyota's vision for the city of the future, and the company says construction will start as soon as next year.

The company is billing the project as the "Woven City", a Hydrogen-powered, hyper connected prototype town that it says will initially house 2,000 people.

At a slick presentation of its plans at the CES in Las Vegas today (6 January 2020), the company said it was already seeking expressions of interest from aspiring residents.

And while Toyota's President and CEO Akio Toyoda admits the proposal is a bit of a departure from the company's bread and butter he says Toyota still very much has the future of cars on its mind.

"Everyone wants to know: when will cars truly drive themselves? When will they know what I'm thinking? When will they fly? And more importantly, when will cars actually transform into giant robot? Now, we might not be working on a Toyota transformer, but we are focussed on the future of connectivity, autonomy, shared mobility, and electrification - or CASE, as we call it," he says.

The "Woven City" would be a "living laboratory" that the company says would serve as a home to full-time residents, as well as researchers.

The city would be fully sustainable, and would be constructed around a a grid-like plan of streets and laneways.

Toyoda says his vision is for a town where commercial and academic researchers could collaborate and experiment.

"Imagine a fully controlled site that would allow researchers, engineers and scientists the opportunity to freely test technologies such as autonomy, mobility as a service, robotics, smart-home connected technology, AI (artificial intelligence), and more, in a real world environment," he says.

Toyota is stressing it's vision is for other companies to also use its new "Woven City" testing site too, which the company says will be built on a 175-acre site it owns at Higashi-Fuji in central Japan.

It's commissioning Danish architect Bjarke Ingels to design the urban form itself.

Ingels says the opportunity to design an entirely new city to test out emerging technologies and to create an enviable living environment is unique.

A key innovation: re-thinking the purpose and layout of city streets.

"So basically today the typical street is a mess, with everything and nothing everywhere," he says.

"So we started by splitting the typical street into three separate forms of mobility. The first type is for faster transportation, and every vehicle is autonomous, with zero emissions, and street trees create the necessary distinction between people and vehicles. The second type will be an urban promenade, shared by pedestrians, and slower personal mobility. And the final type of street will be a linear park, with paths for pedestrians only. So imagine walking from one part of town to the other, moving only through a park."

The "Woven City" will be powered by hydrogen, and buildings will be built mostly of wood to minimise the project's carbon footprint.

Traditional Japanese timber joining techniques will be used in construction.

The rooftops of the city's buildings will be covered in photo-voltaic cells that generate solar power, while underground there'll be a network of tunnels for autonomous vehicles to make deliveries and process waste.

Above ground, there are also some exciting innovations.

"A major piece of the puzzle in the whole city is the "Toyota E-Pallet", an autonomous vehicle that will serve for shared transportation and mobile retail," Ingels says.

"It is also going to make deliveries to the research and development labs, which rise above the central plaza. And the "E-Pallet" will also help create flexible programming in the central plaza, making the plaza the rebirth of the marketplace, the town square, or even the fairground. So in an age when technology, social media and online retail is replacing and eliminating our natural meeting places, the "Woven City" will explore ways to stimulate human interaction in the urban space."

All in all, it's an ambitious plan for a company best known for its cars, as Toyoda readily admits.

"You may be thinking: has this guy lost his mind? Is he like a Japanese version of Willy Wonka? Perhaps. But I truly believe this is a project that can benefit everyone, not just Toyota," he says.

Toyota plans to initially populate its city with its own employees and their families along with retirees, scientists and other collaborating researchers.

The town is envisaged to have an initial population of 2,000, but there's scope for more to move in later.

The "Woven City" plan was unveiled at CES in Las Vegas, a week-long conference that started yesterday (5 January 2020).

After two days of media-only previews, the show floor at CES will open to the public Tuesday through to Friday.

Las Vegas, Nevada, US - 6 January 2020

1. Wide of Toyota's "Woven City" promotional presentation at CES conference

2. Wide of crowds gathering for Toyota presentation

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Akio Toyoda, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Everyone wants to know: when will cars truly drive themselves? When will they know what I'm thinking? When will they fly? And more importantly, when will cars actually transform into giant robot? Now, we might not be working on a Toyota transformer, but we are focussed on the future of connectivity, autonomy, shared mobility, and electrification - or CASE, as we call it."

4. Wide of "Woven City" promotional presentation showing urban layout, a city square, a road with autonomous vehicles and pedestrians, and a futuristic living room

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Akio Toyoda, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Imagine a fully controlled site that would allow researchers, engineers and scientists the opportunity to freely test technologies such as autonomy, mobility as a service, robotics, smart-home connected technology, AI (artificial intelligence), and more, in a real world environment."

6. Wide of Akio Toyoda talking at CES with screen projects behind him

7. Pan out of Toyoda welcoming Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Partner of Bjarke Ingels Group, to stage

8. Wide of Ingels talking on stage with computer projections on screen behind him

9 SOUNDBITE (English) , Founder and Creative Partner, Bjarke Ingels Group:

"So basically today the typical street is a mess, with everything and nothing everywhere. So we started by splitting the typical street into three separate forms of mobility. The first type is for faster transportation, and every vehicle is autonomous, with zero emissions, and street trees create the necessary distinction between people and vehicles. The second type will be an urban promenade, shared by pedestrians, and slower personal mobility. And the final type of street will be a linear park, with paths for pedestrians only. So imagine walking from one part of town to the other, moving only through a park."

10. Wide of Ingels talking on stage with projections of the below-ground infrastructure for the "Woven City" on screen behind him

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Partner, Bjarke Ingels Group:

"A major piece of the puzzle in the whole city is the "Toyota E-Pallet", an autonomous vehicle that will serve for shared transportation and mobile retail. It is also going to make deliveries to the research and development labs, which rise above the central plaza. And the "E-Pallet" will also help create flexible programming in the central plaza, making the plaza the rebirth of the marketplace, the town square, or even the fairground. So in an age when technology, social media and online retail is replacing and eliminating our natural meeting places, the "Woven City" will explore ways to stimulate human interaction in the urban space."

12. Wide of Toyoda on stage with "Woven City" projections on screen behind him

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Akio Toyoda, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"You may be thinking: has this guy lost his mind? Is he like a Japanese version of Willy Wonka? Perhaps. But I truly believe this is a project that can benefit everyone, not just Toyota."

14. Pan out of Toyoda bowing on stage and shaking hands with Ingels

15. Close of Toyoda and Ingels shaking hands on stage

16. Pan right of projection of "Woven City" as crowds start to disperse

17. Wide of auditorium with crowds dispersing

LEADIN:

Concept cars and the latest eco-friendly vehicles are being unveiled by Japanese automakers at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Analysts say Japanese car makers are now facing new challengers from outside the traditional auto market, especially from Silicon Valley and China.

STORYLINE:

Toyota Motor Corp. is debuting its Concept-i concept car in Tokyo.

The futuristic-looking vehicle is equipped with autonomous driving features and artificial intelligence technologies.

The vehicles' AI technology allows it to shift to autonomous driving by detecting the driver's mood and condition. It analyses the driver's facial expressions and behaviour.

The automaker is also introducing this Fine-Comfort Ride, a new fuel cell concept car that can run 1,000 kilometres.

That's 50 percent longer than its predecessor, the Mirai, the world's first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, which went on sale in 2014.

The company is also showing a hybrid sports car concept, named the GRHV Sports concept.

Toyota Motor Corp. executive vice president Didier Leroy, stressed the importance of keeping Toyota's ability to develop zero-emissions and smart models using various technologies, not just focusing on electric vehicles.

"In the world, the development of the infrastructure for the fuel cell or for the charging for the batteries will be developed at different speeds based on the countries, based on the government and strategy and so on and also based on private investment," he says.

"That means we must be ready for all the different kind of technologies. And at the same time, we know that urban mobility will go probably much faster to pure battery EV, long distance will go probably much faster to fuel cells.

"So, we must be ready for all the technologies at the same time. And we are developing all the technologies because we want to provide the right car, at the right time, at the right place, everywhere in the world."

Despite being a pioneer in hybrid technology, Toyota has been slow to embrace EVs.

But with the market rapidly expanding, the company is moving to boost its efforts in EV production through a capital tie-up with Mazda Motor Corp.

Nissan Motor Co. is showcasing its IMx zero-emission concept with automated driving technology and a range of over 600 kilometres.

The company says the design enables safer, more convenient and more enjoyable driving.

Nissan executive vice president for global marketing and sales Daniele Schillaci says the concept model isn't a far-flung idea, but something possible in the "very near future."

"This Nissan IMx zero-emission concept is not just an idea," he says.

"It's our view of future of mobility and not in a distant future, but in the very near future."

Nissan, a leading EV maker with its well-established Leaf model, is also unveiling its Leaf Nismo Concept car.

It's a sporty version of the Leaf electric vehicle developed and launched in September.

Analysts say Japanese auto makers have been leading the industry for years.

But they're now facing a new environment, competing with newcomers outside traditional auto market and outside the technology they've excelled in.

"The Japanese used to be technology leaders, but really what they're finding is that they, like all global makers, are being pressured by new comers, not only from Silicon Valley, but from China," says Hans Greimel, Asia editor of Automotive News.

"So, they really have to up their game. And, they're stepping into technology areas where they don't have a lot of expertise.

"We're talking things like robotics, software, artificial intelligence. That's the kind of technology that's gonna be driving the next generation, the future generation of cars and that's where they're really struggling to step up their game."

Mitsubishi Motor Corporation is introducing its e-EVOLUTION concept, a high performance all electric crossover SUV.

The sporty EV is equipped with AI to help with off-roading.

Honda Motor Co. is showcasing this Sports EV Concept, built upon an EV-specific platform with AI technology.

Honda hopes to present "a next-generation sports car" and "a stylish form of a compact car" with the concept model.

Japanese auto giants, such as Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Honda are among over 150 companies and organisations exhibiting at the annual Tokyo Motor Show.

The event opens to the pubic 28 October and runs till 5 November.

Tokyo, Japan - 25 October 2017

1. Various of Toyota's Concept-i being unveiled and Didier Leroy, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corp., coming on the stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Didier Leroy, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"Akio Toyoda (Toyota President) said those who exceed others in their passion to make ever better society will be the leading player in future mobility."

3. Various of Concept-i

4. Various of GRHV Sports concept

5. Various of Fine-Comfort Ride

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Didier Leroy, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"In the world, the development of the infrastructure for the fuel cells or for the charging for the batteries will be developed at different speeds based on the countries, based on the government and strategy and so on and also based on private investment. That means we must be ready for all the different kind of technologies. And at the same time, we know that urban mobility will go probably much faster to pure battery EV, long distance will go probably much faster to fuel cells. So, we must be ready for all the technologies at the same time. And we are developing all the technologies because we want to provide the right car, at the right time, at the right place, everywhere in the world."

7. Various of Nissan unveiling IMx zero-emission concept, pan to Nissan executive vice president for global marketing and sales Daniele Schillaci

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniele Schillaci, Nissan executive vice president for global marketing and sales:

"This Nissan IMx zero-emission concept is not just an idea. It's our view of future of mobility and not in a distant future, but in the very near future."

9. Various of IMx zero-emission concept

10. Various of Nissan Leaf Nismo concept

Tokyo, Japan - 23 October 2017

11. Setup shot of Hans Greimel, Asia Editor, Automotive News

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Greimel, Asia Editor, Automotive News

"The Japanese used to be technology leaders, but really what they're finding is that they, like all global makers, are being pressured by new comers, not only from Silicon Valley, but from China. So, they really have to up their game. And, they're stepping into technology areas where they don't have a lot of expertise. We're talking things like robotics, software, artificial intelligence. That's the kind of technology that's gonna be driving the next generation, the future generation of cars and that's where they're really struggling to step up their game."

Tokyo, Japan - 25 October 2017

13. Various of Mitsubishi e-EVOLUTION concept

14. Various of Honda Sports EV concept

LEADIN:

Concept cars and the latest eco-friendly vehicles are being unveiled by Japanese automakers at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Analysts say Japanese car makers are now facing new challengers from outside the traditional auto market, especially from Silicon Valley and China.

STORYLINE:

Toyota Motor Corp. is debuting its Concept-i concept car in Tokyo.

The futuristic-looking vehicle is equipped with autonomous driving features and artificial intelligence technologies.

The vehicles' AI technology allows it to shift to autonomous driving by detecting the driver's mood and condition. It analyses the driver's facial expressions and behaviour.

The automaker is also introducing this Fine-Comfort Ride, a new fuel cell concept car that can run 1,000 kilometres.

That's 50 percent longer than its predecessor, the Mirai, the world's first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, which went on sale in 2014.

The company is also showing a hybrid sports car concept, named the GRHV Sports concept.

Toyota Motor Corp. executive vice president Didier Leroy, stressed the importance of keeping Toyota's ability to develop zero-emissions and smart models using various technologies, not just focusing on electric vehicles.

"In the world, the development of the infrastructure for the fuel cell or for the charging for the batteries will be developed at different speeds based on the countries, based on the government and strategy and so on and also based on private investment," he says.

"That means we must be ready for all the different kind of technologies. And at the same time, we know that urban mobility will go probably much faster to pure battery EV, long distance will go probably much faster to fuel cells.

"So, we must be ready for all the technologies at the same time. And we are developing all the technologies because we want to provide the right car, at the right time, at the right place, everywhere in the world."

Despite being a pioneer in hybrid technology, Toyota has been slow to embrace EVs.

But with the market rapidly expanding, the company is moving to boost its efforts in EV production through a capital tie-up with Mazda Motor Corp.

Nissan Motor Co. is showcasing its IMx zero-emission concept with automated driving technology and a range of over 600 kilometres.

The company says the design enables safer, more convenient and more enjoyable driving.

Nissan executive vice president for global marketing and sales Daniele Schillaci says the concept model isn't a far-flung idea, but something possible in the "very near future."

"This Nissan IMx zero-emission concept is not just an idea," he says.

"It's our view of future of mobility and not in a distant future, but in the very near future."

Nissan, a leading EV maker with its well-established Leaf model, is also unveiling its Leaf Nismo Concept car.

It's a sporty version of the Leaf electric vehicle developed and launched in September.

Analysts say Japanese auto makers have been leading the industry for years.

But they're now facing a new environment, competing with newcomers outside traditional auto market and outside the technology they've excelled in.

"The Japanese used to be technology leaders, but really what they're finding is that they, like all global makers, are being pressured by new comers, not only from Silicon Valley, but from China," says Hans Greimel, Asia editor of Automotive News.

"So, they really have to up their game. And, they're stepping into technology areas where they don't have a lot of expertise.

"We're talking things like robotics, software, artificial intelligence. That's the kind of technology that's gonna be driving the next generation, the future generation of cars and that's where they're really struggling to step up their game."

Mitsubishi Motor Corporation is introducing its e-EVOLUTION concept, a high performance all electric crossover SUV.

The sporty EV is equipped with AI to help with off-roading.

Honda Motor Co. is showcasing this Sports EV Concept, built upon an EV-specific platform with AI technology.

Honda hopes to present "a next-generation sports car" and "a stylish form of a compact car" with the concept model.

Japanese auto giants, such as Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Honda are among over 150 companies and organisations exhibiting at the annual Tokyo Motor Show.

The event opens to the pubic 28 October and runs till 5 November.

Tokyo, Japan - 25 October 2017

1. Various of Toyota's Concept-i being unveiled and Didier Leroy, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corp., coming on the stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Didier Leroy, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"Akio Toyoda (Toyota President) said those who exceed others in their passion to make ever better society will be the leading player in future mobility."

3. Various of Concept-i

4. Various of GRHV Sports concept

5. Various of Fine-Comfort Ride

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Didier Leroy, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"In the world, the development of the infrastructure for the fuel cells or for the charging for the batteries will be developed at different speeds based on the countries, based on the government and strategy and so on and also based on private investment. That means we must be ready for all the different kind of technologies. And at the same time, we know that urban mobility will go probably much faster to pure battery EV, long distance will go probably much faster to fuel cells. So, we must be ready for all the technologies at the same time. And we are developing all the technologies because we want to provide the right car, at the right time, at the right place, everywhere in the world."

7. Various of Nissan unveiling IMx zero-emission concept, pan to Nissan executive vice president for global marketing and sales Daniele Schillaci

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniele Schillaci, Nissan executive vice president for global marketing and sales:

"This Nissan IMx zero-emission concept is not just an idea. It's our view of future of mobility and not in a distant future, but in the very near future."

9. Various of IMx zero-emission concept

10. Various of Nissan Leaf Nismo concept

Tokyo, Japan - 23 October 2017

11. Setup shot of Hans Greimel, Asia Editor, Automotive News

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Greimel, Asia Editor, Automotive News

"The Japanese used to be technology leaders, but really what they're finding is that they, like all global makers, are being pressured by new comers, not only from Silicon Valley, but from China. So, they really have to up their game. And, they're stepping into technology areas where they don't have a lot of expertise. We're talking things like robotics, software, artificial intelligence. That's the kind of technology that's gonna be driving the next generation, the future generation of cars and that's where they're really struggling to step up their game."

Tokyo, Japan - 25 October 2017

13. Various of Mitsubishi e-EVOLUTION concept

14. Various of Honda Sports EV concept

LEADIN:

Concept cars and the latest eco-friendly vehicles are being unveiled by Japanese automakers at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Analysts say Japanese car makers are now facing new challengers from outside the traditional auto market, especially from Silicon Valley and China.

STORYLINE:

Toyota Motor Corp. is debuting its Concept-i concept car in Tokyo.

The futuristic-looking vehicle is equipped with autonomous driving features and artificial intelligence technologies.

The vehicles' AI technology allows it to shift to autonomous driving by detecting the driver's mood and condition. It analyses the driver's facial expressions and behaviour.

The automaker is also introducing this Fine-Comfort Ride, a new fuel cell concept car that can run 1,000 kilometres.

That's 50 percent longer than its predecessor, the Mirai, the world's first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, which went on sale in 2014.

The company is also showing a hybrid sports car concept, named the GRHV Sports concept.

Toyota Motor Corp. executive vice president Didier Leroy, stressed the importance of keeping Toyota's ability to develop zero-emissions and smart models using various technologies, not just focusing on electric vehicles.

"In the world, the development of the infrastructure for the fuel cell or for the charging for the batteries will be developed at different speeds based on the countries, based on the government and strategy and so on and also based on private investment," he says.

"That means we must be ready for all the different kind of technologies. And at the same time, we know that urban mobility will go probably much faster to pure battery EV, long distance will go probably much faster to fuel cells.

"So, we must be ready for all the technologies at the same time. And we are developing all the technologies because we want to provide the right car, at the right time, at the right place, everywhere in the world."

Despite being a pioneer in hybrid technology, Toyota has been slow to embrace EVs.

But with the market rapidly expanding, the company is moving to boost its efforts in EV production through a capital tie-up with Mazda Motor Corp.

Nissan Motor Co. is showcasing its IMx zero-emission concept with automated driving technology and a range of over 600 kilometres.

The company says the design enables safer, more convenient and more enjoyable driving.

Nissan executive vice president for global marketing and sales Daniele Schillaci says the concept model isn't a far-flung idea, but something possible in the "very near future."

"This Nissan IMx zero-emission concept is not just an idea," he says.

"It's our view of future of mobility and not in a distant future, but in the very near future."

Nissan, a leading EV maker with its well-established Leaf model, is also unveiling its Leaf Nismo Concept car.

It's a sporty version of the Leaf electric vehicle developed and launched in September.

Analysts say Japanese auto makers have been leading the industry for years.

But they're now facing a new environment, competing with newcomers outside traditional auto market and outside the technology they've excelled in.

"The Japanese used to be technology leaders, but really what they're finding is that they, like all global makers, are being pressured by new comers, not only from Silicon Valley, but from China," says Hans Greimel, Asia editor of Automotive News.

"So, they really have to up their game. And, they're stepping into technology areas where they don't have a lot of expertise.

"We're talking things like robotics, software, artificial intelligence. That's the kind of technology that's gonna be driving the next generation, the future generation of cars and that's where they're really struggling to step up their game."

Mitsubishi Motor Corporation is introducing its e-EVOLUTION concept, a high performance all electric crossover SUV.

The sporty EV is equipped with AI to help with off-roading.

Honda Motor Co. is showcasing this Sports EV Concept, built upon an EV-specific platform with AI technology.

Honda hopes to present "a next-generation sports car" and "a stylish form of a compact car" with the concept model.

Japanese auto giants, such as Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Honda are among over 150 companies and organisations exhibiting at the annual Tokyo Motor Show.

The event opens to the pubic 28 October and runs till 5 November.

Tokyo, Japan - 25 October 2017

1. Various of Toyota's Concept-i being unveiled and Didier Leroy, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corp., coming on the stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Didier Leroy, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"Akio Toyoda (Toyota President) said those who exceed others in their passion to make ever better society will be the leading player in future mobility."

3. Various of Concept-i

4. Various of GRHV Sports concept

5. Various of Fine-Comfort Ride

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Didier Leroy, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corp.:

"In the world, the development of the infrastructure for the fuel cells or for the charging for the batteries will be developed at different speeds based on the countries, based on the government and strategy and so on and also based on private investment. That means we must be ready for all the different kind of technologies. And at the same time, we know that urban mobility will go probably much faster to pure battery EV, long distance will go probably much faster to fuel cells. So, we must be ready for all the technologies at the same time. And we are developing all the technologies because we want to provide the right car, at the right time, at the right place, everywhere in the world."

7. Various of Nissan unveiling IMx zero-emission concept, pan to Nissan executive vice president for global marketing and sales Daniele Schillaci

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniele Schillaci, Nissan executive vice president for global marketing and sales:

"This Nissan IMx zero-emission concept is not just an idea. It's our view of future of mobility and not in a distant future, but in the very near future."

9. Various of IMx zero-emission concept

10. Various of Nissan Leaf Nismo concept

Tokyo, Japan - 23 October 2017

11. Setup shot of Hans Greimel, Asia Editor, Automotive News

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Greimel, Asia Editor, Automotive News

"The Japanese used to be technology leaders, but really what they're finding is that they, like all global makers, are being pressured by new comers, not only from Silicon Valley, but from China. So, they really have to up their game. And, they're stepping into technology areas where they don't have a lot of expertise. We're talking things like robotics, software, artificial intelligence. That's the kind of technology that's gonna be driving the next generation, the future generation of cars and that's where they're really struggling to step up their game."

Tokyo, Japan - 25 October 2017

13. Various of Mitsubishi e-EVOLUTION concept

14. Various of Honda Sports EV concept

LEAD IN

The Beijing auto show is offering a glimpse of future-driving, from autonomous vehicles to flying cars.

Also on show is the e-Palette, originally aimed at transporting athletes and staff at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

STORY-LINE:

This is the Honda SUV e:concept.

The automaker says it will be the future model for its first electric vehicle in China.

"This unique sports EV of Honda realises dynamic performance, together with a high level of environmental performance," says Katsushi Inoue, in charge of Honda operations in China.

Honda says the new model will include its next generation sensor technologies called "omnidirectional ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System)" that uses wider front camera angles and a 360-degree radar to enable safer driving.

"This system will be able to assist safe driving in more complex and diverse driving conditions on highways and surface roads," the company said in a press release.

The car will also offer "Honda Connect" which is to feature connections with smartphones and AI assistance.

On display from Chinese startup Xpeng is a flying vehicle prototype called Kiwigogo. The drone-like machine has eight propellers with operating consoles on the driver's arm rest.

Toyota and Hongqi are both displaying autonomous driving cars.

First unveiled in 2018, Toyota's battery-electric e-Palette, offers a high level of automation with a flexible customisation, including ride-sharing or mobile shops. Launch partners included Amazon, Chinese taxi app DiDi and Pizza Hut.

The company had initially planned for up to 20 e-Palette vehicles to be used to at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to transport athletes and staff.

The e-Palette geared for Olympic Games can transport up to 20 passengers, with a range of approximately 150km, and speed of 19 km/h. Alternatively it can accommodate up to 4 wheelchairs and 7 standing passengers.

Hongqi's flashy autonomous concept car caters to smaller groups, with a large entertainment screen in a spacious 3-seater interior.  

A Hongqi representative says the concept car envisions uses for tours and sightseeing, with the goal of putting the vehicle on the market next year.

While flying cars may yet be a long way off from being on the market, Huaibin Lin, IHS Markit, Manager of China Light Vehicle Sales Forecast says autonomous vehicles may affect the auto industry in the next decade.

"It's definitely the ultimate goal of a lot of car companies," he says, noting many auto giants have invested in automated or semi-automated driving.

"Maybe within 10 years we could see some impact already on car demand, because with autonomous driving, you probably won't need as many cars as you used to, especially looking at multi-car households, you'll probably just need one car," says Lin.

China's major auto shows, held in Beijing and Shanghai in alternate years, are among the industry's biggest events, attracting global automakers and dozens of Chinese brands.

This week's event follows a smaller auto show in July in the western city of Chengdu with 120 exhibitors, equal to about 10% of the size of the typical Beijing and Shanghai shows.

The Beijing Auto Show opened to the media and trade industry Saturday, and opens to the public from September 30th to October 5th.

***COMMERCIAL MUSIC, MUSIC VIDEO AND OR PERFORMANCES, MUST BE CLEARED ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN LOCAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE AND COPYRIGHT AGREEMENTS WITH YOUR APPLICABLE COLLECTING SOCIETY***

Beijing – 26 September 2020

1. Various of the unveiling of the Honda SUV e:Concept

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Inoue Katsushi, Honda China region head

"This unique sports EV of Honda realises dynamic performance, together with a high level of environmental performance. And as we want to offer the fun of such driving, with safety and peace of mind, this concept model will demonstrate the vision of advanced safety driving with omnidirectional ADAS. Furthermore, this model will be equipped with next generation Honda Connect."    

3. Close of Honda's concept car

4. Wide of Honda stage with executives

5. Pan of Honda executives

6. Wide of Honda concept

7. Close of wheel

8. Close of Honda logo and nose

9. Wide of Xpeng flying car, Kiwigogo

10. Close of Kiwigogo seat and controls

11. Close of Kiwigogo logo

12. Close of Kiwigogo legs

13. Tilt up of Kiwigogo

14. Close of control screen

15. Wide of Kiwigogo

Shanghai – 28 September 2020

++ ZOOM INTERVIEW, QUALITY AS INCOMING ++

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Huaibin Lin, IHS Markit, Manager of China Light Vehicle Sales Forecast

"Flying cars are definitely not within our forecast horizon yet because for us it still seems to be quite a distance away, but then autonomous cars, seriously, would theoretically have quite an impact in 10 years time because you see a lot of OEM or car companies now make a lot of investments on autonomous driving - (for example) Tesla with auto pilot. Although it's not close to full real auto pilot - where you don't need to look at the wheels and just read and play in cars, still we're not reaching that level but it's definitely the ultimate goal of a lot of car companies."

Beijing – 26 September 2020

17. Wide of visitors at auto show

18. Mid of visitors at auto show

Shanghai – 28 September 2020

++ ZOOM INTERVIEW, QUALITY AS INCOMING ++

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Huaibin Lin, IHS Markit, Manager of China Light Vehicle Sales Forecast

"Maybe within 10 years we could see some impact already on car demand, because with autonomous driving, you probably don't need as many cars as you used to, especially looking at multi-car households, you'll probably just need one car, because for example, when a husband drives the car to work, then the car can come back and pick up his wife to go to another job so you don't need so many cars. Indeed, in the end, the impact, if it is becoming real functional (car), that consumers can accept, autonomous vehicles could have impact on car demand in the future."

Beijing – 26 September 2020

20. Tracking shot of BMW's Concept i4 driving onto stage

21. Pan of BMW i4

22. Wide of i4

23. Interior of i4

24. Close of i4 steering wheel

25. Close of i4 nose

26. Wide of Toyota's e-Palette autonomous driving concept car

27. Wide of Toyota show booth

28. Pan of Toyota's Mirai Concept

29. Wide of Mirai Concept

30. Wide of Hongqi autonomous driving concept car

31. Pan of Hongqi concept interior

32. Close of Hongqi logo on car

33. Wide of Hongqi concept exterior

34. Close of wheel

LEADIN:

Concept cars, electric vehicles and hybrids are stealing the show at India's 2018 Auto Expo.

Brands including Toyota, Honda and Renault are showcasing futuristic designs and more environmentally-friendly motors.

STORYLINE:

South Korean car brand Kia is gearing up to enter the Indian market.

It's creating a lot of buzz at the 2018 Auto Expo in Uttar Pradesh, near New Delhi.

On display is the brand's new Stinger GT and the SP SUV, a compact SUV tailored for the Indian market, which the company plans to launch in 2019.

Thousands are flocking to India's biggest auto show to check out the latest in car design and technology.

Mercedes-Benz is showing off its Concept EQ. The sporty SUV runs on a battery-electric engine and can produce up to 300 kilowatts of power.

Renault is showcasing its Trezor Concept, showing what the future of battery-powered sports cars might look like.

Last year, in an attempt to clean up the country's air pollution, India's government announced that it wanted all new cars from 2030 onwards to be electric.

But there's a long way to go for the relatively expensive electric and hybrid vehicles to penetrate the Indian market, which is currently dominated by more affordable petrol and diesel cars.

This Honda Accord Hybrid comes at a hefty price tag of $67,000 USD in India.

But car makers like Honda are hopeful Indians will buy more environmentally-friendly cars, with more incentives from the government.

"In these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies," says Rakesh Sidana, operating head at Honda Cars India.

"So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)?"

Toyota is showing off its electric Prius PHV.

Renault is displaying its Zoe E-Sport Concept, a two-door version of its electric city car, which it plans to bring to India.

Car makers say they believe young Indians, with more money to spend due to rising incomes, will take to electric and hybrid vehicles.

"If we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades," says Sidana.

"Which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value."

India's second largest car manufacturer Hyundai is set to introduce a toned-down version of its fully-electric Ioniq sedan to Indians next year.

Puneet Anand, senior general manager at Hyundai India, believes hybrid and electric cars are the future vehicles of India.

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time," he says.

"So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

India's Auto Expo 2018 runs till 14 February.

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh - 9 February 2018

1. Mid of musicians performing

2. Wide of musicians performing, models posing next to Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

3. Visitors taking pictures

4. Wide of models posing with Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

5. Mid of a model posing next to Kia SP SUV Concept

6. Mid of Mercedes Benz emblem on Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ

7. Wide of model posing next to Mercedes Benz Concept EQ

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 12 February 2018

8. Sign on floor 'Renault Trezor', tilt up to model posing next to concept car

9. Close of steering wheel of Renault Trezor concept car

10. Various of Toyota FCV Plus concept car

11. Close of front of Honda Sports EV concept car

12. Wide of Honda Sports EV concept car (right) and NeuV concept car (left)

13. Pan right from Honda Sports EV to NeuV concept car

14. Visitor taking photos on his phone

15. Door of NeuV concept car opening

16. Mid of NeuV concept car interior

17. Wide of visitors at Honda pavilion

18. Wide of model posing next to Honda Accord Hybrid car, priced at approx. $67,000 USD in India

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"Accord (Hybrid) that we are showcasing here, it's 55 percent more efficient than a normal petrol Accord. So, in these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies. So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)? So, hybrid is a one good stepping stone, plug in hybrids is another one. So, internationally also if you look at, all countries are talking about 15 percent, 20 percent penetration to 2030 of pure battery electric vehicles because of the inherent battery constraints in terms of technology. But even our own global policy is that by 2030, two third of our cars will be electric vehicles."

20. Wide of Toyota pavilion

21. Various of Toyota's Prius PHV plug-in hybrid

22. Various of Renault Zoe E- Sports concept car

23. Close of visitor taking pictures on phone

24. Pan left from visitors to electric motor of Renault Zoe

25. Mid of electric motor

26. Close of charging point

27. Various of Honda Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle

28. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"There is a very high price sensitivity in this market, but there is also a very high value consciousness. So, if we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades, which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value. So, we don't see a challenge in terms of pricing, we see a challenge of very high value of equation to be given to the customer and that's what our endeavour has been."

29. Pan left of visitors looking at cars at Hyundai pavilion

30. Close of Hyundai's electric car, Ioniq, being charged

31. Various of visitors looking at car

32. Tracking shot of Hyundai Ioniq

33. Various of Ioniq interior

34. SOUNDBITE (English) Puneet Anand, Senior General Manager and Group Head, Marketing, Hyundai Motor India Limited:

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time. So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

35. Close of dancers performing at Hyundai pavilion

36. Wide of Hyundai pavilion

LEADIN:

Concept cars, electric vehicles and hybrids are stealing the show at India's 2018 Auto Expo.

Brands including Toyota, Honda and Renault are showcasing futuristic designs and more environmentally-friendly motors.

STORYLINE:

South Korean car brand Kia is gearing up to enter the Indian market.

It's creating a lot of buzz at the 2018 Auto Expo in Uttar Pradesh, near New Delhi.

On display is the brand's new Stinger GT and the SP SUV, a compact SUV tailored for the Indian market, which the company plans to launch in 2019.

Thousands are flocking to India's biggest auto show to check out the latest in car design and technology.

Mercedes-Benz is showing off its Concept EQ. The sporty SUV runs on a battery-electric engine and can produce up to 300 kilowatts of power.

Renault is showcasing its Trezor Concept, showing what the future of battery-powered sports cars might look like.

Last year, in an attempt to clean up the country's air pollution, India's government announced that it wanted all new cars from 2030 onwards to be electric.

But there's a long way to go for the relatively expensive electric and hybrid vehicles to penetrate the Indian market, which is currently dominated by more affordable petrol and diesel cars.

This Honda Accord Hybrid comes at a hefty price tag of $67,000 USD in India.

But car makers like Honda are hopeful Indians will buy more environmentally-friendly cars, with more incentives from the government.

"In these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies," says Rakesh Sidana, operating head at Honda Cars India.

"So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)?"

Toyota is showing off its electric Prius PHV.

Renault is displaying its Zoe E-Sport Concept, a two-door version of its electric city car, which it plans to bring to India.

Car makers say they believe young Indians, with more money to spend due to rising incomes, will take to electric and hybrid vehicles.

"If we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades," says Sidana.

"Which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value."

India's second largest car manufacturer Hyundai is set to introduce a toned-down version of its fully-electric Ioniq sedan to Indians next year.

Puneet Anand, senior general manager at Hyundai India, believes hybrid and electric cars are the future vehicles of India.

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time," he says.

"So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

India's Auto Expo 2018 runs till 14 February.

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh - 9 February 2018

1. Mid of musicians performing

2. Wide of musicians performing, models posing next to Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

3. Visitors taking pictures

4. Wide of models posing with Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

5. Mid of a model posing next to Kia SP SUV Concept

6. Mid of Mercedes Benz emblem on Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ

7. Wide of model posing next to Mercedes Benz Concept EQ

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 12 February 2018

8. Sign on floor 'Renault Trezor', tilt up to model posing next to concept car

9. Close of steering wheel of Renault Trezor concept car

10. Various of Toyota FCV Plus concept car

11. Close of front of Honda Sports EV concept car

12. Wide of Honda Sports EV concept car (right) and NeuV concept car (left)

13. Pan right from Honda Sports EV to NeuV concept car

14. Visitor taking photos on his phone

15. Door of NeuV concept car opening

16. Mid of NeuV concept car interior

17. Wide of visitors at Honda pavilion

18. Wide of model posing next to Honda Accord Hybrid car, priced at approx. $67,000 USD in India

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"Accord (Hybrid) that we are showcasing here, it's 55 percent more efficient than a normal petrol Accord. So, in these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies. So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)? So, hybrid is a one good stepping stone, plug in hybrids is another one. So, internationally also if you look at, all countries are talking about 15 percent, 20 percent penetration to 2030 of pure battery electric vehicles because of the inherent battery constraints in terms of technology. But even our own global policy is that by 2030, two third of our cars will be electric vehicles."

20. Wide of Toyota pavilion

21. Various of Toyota's Prius PHV plug-in hybrid

22. Various of Renault Zoe E- Sports concept car

23. Close of visitor taking pictures on phone

24. Pan left from visitors to electric motor of Renault Zoe

25. Mid of electric motor

26. Close of charging point

27. Various of Honda Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle

28. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"There is a very high price sensitivity in this market, but there is also a very high value consciousness. So, if we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades, which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value. So, we don't see a challenge in terms of pricing, we see a challenge of very high value of equation to be given to the customer and that's what our endeavour has been."

29. Pan left of visitors looking at cars at Hyundai pavilion

30. Close of Hyundai's electric car, Ioniq, being charged

31. Various of visitors looking at car

32. Tracking shot of Hyundai Ioniq

33. Various of Ioniq interior

34. SOUNDBITE (English) Puneet Anand, Senior General Manager and Group Head, Marketing, Hyundai Motor India Limited:

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time. So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

35. Close of dancers performing at Hyundai pavilion

36. Wide of Hyundai pavilion

LEADIN:

Concept cars, electric vehicles and hybrids are stealing the show at India's 2018 Auto Expo.

Brands including Toyota, Honda and Renault are showcasing futuristic designs and more environmentally-friendly motors.

STORYLINE:

South Korean car brand Kia is gearing up to enter the Indian market.

It's creating a lot of buzz at the 2018 Auto Expo in Uttar Pradesh, near New Delhi.

On display is the brand's new Stinger GT and the SP SUV, a compact SUV tailored for the Indian market, which the company plans to launch in 2019.

Thousands are flocking to India's biggest auto show to check out the latest in car design and technology.

Mercedes-Benz is showing off its Concept EQ. The sporty SUV runs on a battery-electric engine and can produce up to 300 kilowatts of power.

Renault is showcasing its Trezor Concept, showing what the future of battery-powered sports cars might look like.

Last year, in an attempt to clean up the country's air pollution, India's government announced that it wanted all new cars from 2030 onwards to be electric.

But there's a long way to go for the relatively expensive electric and hybrid vehicles to penetrate the Indian market, which is currently dominated by more affordable petrol and diesel cars.

This Honda Accord Hybrid comes at a hefty price tag of $67,000 USD in India.

But car makers like Honda are hopeful Indians will buy more environmentally-friendly cars, with more incentives from the government.

"In these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies," says Rakesh Sidana, operating head at Honda Cars India.

"So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)?"

Toyota is showing off its electric Prius PHV.

Renault is displaying its Zoe E-Sport Concept, a two-door version of its electric city car, which it plans to bring to India.

Car makers say they believe young Indians, with more money to spend due to rising incomes, will take to electric and hybrid vehicles.

"If we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades," says Sidana.

"Which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value."

India's second largest car manufacturer Hyundai is set to introduce a toned-down version of its fully-electric Ioniq sedan to Indians next year.

Puneet Anand, senior general manager at Hyundai India, believes hybrid and electric cars are the future vehicles of India.

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time," he says.

"So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

India's Auto Expo 2018 runs till 14 February.

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh - 9 February 2018

1. Mid of musicians performing

2. Wide of musicians performing, models posing next to Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

3. Visitors taking pictures

4. Wide of models posing with Kia Stinger GT Concept (white) and Kia SP SUV Concept as visitors watch

5. Mid of a model posing next to Kia SP SUV Concept

6. Mid of Mercedes Benz emblem on Mercedes-Benz Concept EQ

7. Wide of model posing next to Mercedes Benz Concept EQ

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 12 February 2018

8. Sign on floor 'Renault Trezor', tilt up to model posing next to concept car

9. Close of steering wheel of Renault Trezor concept car

10. Various of Toyota FCV Plus concept car

11. Close of front of Honda Sports EV concept car

12. Wide of Honda Sports EV concept car (right) and NeuV concept car (left)

13. Pan right from Honda Sports EV to NeuV concept car

14. Visitor taking photos on his phone

15. Door of NeuV concept car opening

16. Mid of NeuV concept car interior

17. Wide of visitors at Honda pavilion

18. Wide of model posing next to Honda Accord Hybrid car, priced at approx. $67,000 USD in India

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"Accord (Hybrid) that we are showcasing here, it's 55 percent more efficient than a normal petrol Accord. So, in these 12 years from now till 2030, we can save a lot of fuel by bringing in these technologies. So, our request to the government also is that let's build up a ten years road map. How do we want to transition towards the EVs (electric vehicles)? So, hybrid is a one good stepping stone, plug in hybrids is another one. So, internationally also if you look at, all countries are talking about 15 percent, 20 percent penetration to 2030 of pure battery electric vehicles because of the inherent battery constraints in terms of technology. But even our own global policy is that by 2030, two third of our cars will be electric vehicles."

20. Wide of Toyota pavilion

21. Various of Toyota's Prius PHV plug-in hybrid

22. Various of Renault Zoe E- Sports concept car

23. Close of visitor taking pictures on phone

24. Pan left from visitors to electric motor of Renault Zoe

25. Mid of electric motor

26. Close of charging point

27. Various of Honda Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle

28. SOUNDBITE (English) Rakesh Sidana, Operating Head, Marketing and Strategy, Honda Cars India Limited:

"There is a very high price sensitivity in this market, but there is also a very high value consciousness. So, if we talk about our products, most of our products are selling in the top grades, which shows that if you give value to the customer he is willing to lap it up. And India being a younger nation, so the capacity to spend more is there if you give him the right value. So, we don't see a challenge in terms of pricing, we see a challenge of very high value of equation to be given to the customer and that's what our endeavour has been."

29. Pan left of visitors looking at cars at Hyundai pavilion

30. Close of Hyundai's electric car, Ioniq, being charged

31. Various of visitors looking at car

32. Tracking shot of Hyundai Ioniq

33. Various of Ioniq interior

34. SOUNDBITE (English) Puneet Anand, Senior General Manager and Group Head, Marketing, Hyundai Motor India Limited:

"Fossil fuels and the import cost of all these fossil fuels will become challeng(ing) at a later stage of time. So, we want to give very clean mobility solutions to every people. And with every manufacturer coming in with the technology, the affordability of this electric car technology will also increase. In fact, when we talk of alternative fuels there is electric car, there is a hybrid car, there is a plug-in hybrid, and we also have a technology called the fuel cell electric vehicle. So, we have everything ready for the future and we want everybody to be a partner to that."

35. Close of dancers performing at Hyundai pavilion

36. Wide of Hyundai pavilion

SWITZERLAND MOTOR SHOW LUXURY

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTIONS: AP CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH: 7:03

SHOTLIST:

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Geneva - 6 March 2018

1. Various of Italdesign Zerouno Duerte, limited edition of 5 cars will be produced, selling for around 2-million euros

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Filippo Perini, Italdesign head of design:

"Three are available. We will configurate the cars to the wishes of new customers, new collectors."

3. Various of McLaren Senna GTR

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jolyon Nash, McLaren head of sales:

"What we have done with the GTR is build a car without any restrictions regarding road legality. So this is a pure track car."

5. Various of Ferrari 488 Pista

6. Various of Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder

7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Stefano Domenicali, Lamborghini CEO:

"Now I think that the next step will be hybrid. That is of course already decided into the future. It's the natural step of evolution. But we want to keep the emotion that the V12 or the V10 can give in our new version of the new powertrain."

8. Various of Toyota GR Supra racing concept

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Tim Stevens, presenter of Roadshow on CNET:

"In luxury right now we are seeing all the major manufacturers here in Geneva, as you would expect. Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley. We are seeing a shift towards new electrification, Bentley is showing off a new plug-in hybrid version of their Bentayga SUV. So they are thinking a bit more about the environment, a bit more about efficiency. Maybe stepping away toward diesel a little bit for these big luxury SUVs that we see here. But ultimately when it comes to sports cars it is still bigger, better, faster. That's always the trend and that will never, ever end."

10. Various of Bentley Bentayga hybrid

11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Adrian Hallmark, Bentley CEO:

"Clearly it is a trend in the industry to electrify in order to bring down the average CO2 performance. So for Bentley this is important to us. But at the same time, if done in the right way, it creates a really fantastic driving experience and quite a sporty driving experience."

12. Various of Aston Martin Lagonda Vision Concept

13. Various of Porsche 911 GT3 RS

14. Various of show-floor

LEADIN:

The Geneva Motor Show has opened to press and petrolheads alike.

As always, it is the luxury cars that are revving up the crowds.

But this year, clean technology is presented alongside the beefed-up spec of fossil-fuel powered and obscenely expensive sports cars.

STORYLINE:

This is the Italdesign Zerouno Duerte, one of the stars of the Geneva Motor Show.

The sleek sports-car car comes with a 5.2-litre V10 engine and can reach a top speed of 320 miles per hour.

The Zerouno Duerta comes a year after the Italian carmaker release the Zerouno coupe and just like the previous version, only five of the Zerouno Duerta will be made.

Three of the Zerouno Duerta are still available. Although the price tag of around 2-million euros might deter most prospective buyers.

"Three are available. We will configurator the cars to the wishes of new customers. New collectors" says Filippo Perini, Italdesign head of design.

British supercar maker McLaren is doing their bit to show outrageous power with the launch of the track-only McLaren Senna GTR Concept.

The company will only produce 75 editions of the Senna GTR Concept, each for around 1 million pounds each.

But don't expect to see this car on the road anytime soon. This is a track-only car that is not going to be legal to drive anywhere else.

"What we have done with the GTR is built a car without any restrictions regarding road legality. So this is a pure track car,"

says Jolyon Nash, McLaren head of sales.

Another car with pure power launched at the show is the Lamborghini Huracan Performante Spyder.

The 5.2-litre V10 engine with 640 horsepower will take you to 100 kilometers per hour in 3.1 seconds.

And, compared to the Italdesign and the McLaren it is a bargain. The Huracán Performante Spyder will cost about 220,000 euros (308,000 US dollars).

At previous shows, Lamborghini has shown hybrid cars but the Huracan Performante Spyder is a pure petrol car.

Although the future is pointing to hybrid, says Stefano Domenicali, Lamborghini CEO.

"Now I think that the next step will be hybrid. That is of course already decided into the future. It's the natural step of evolution. But we want to keep the emotion that the V12 or the V10 can give in our new version of the new powertrain."

Toyota is showing the vision of a high powered future with the Toyota GR Supra racing concept.

The Supra was first launched in 1978 and is now going to be revived after a 16-year break.

However, this is still a concept car, and it is unclear if or when it will be launched on the market.

According to Tim Stevens, presenter of Roadshow on CNET, the current trend in the luxury car market is pointing towards electrification and hybridization.

"We are seeing a shift towards new electrification, Bentley is showing off a new plug-in hybrid version of their Bentayga SUV," he says.

"So they are thinking a bit more about the environment, a bit more about efficiency."

The Bentley Bentayga hybrid is "the world's first luxury hybrid" according to the company.

The electric motor, including batteries that will be fully recharged in 2.5 hours, complements a V6 motor.

It has an electric-only range of 50 kilometres.

"Clearly it is a trend in the industry to electrify in order to bring down the average CO2 performance. So for Bentley, this is important to us. But at the same time, if done in the right way, it is a really fantastic driving experience and quite a sporty driving experience," says Adrian Hallmark, Bentley CEO.

The Lagonda 'Vision Concept'  is a fully electric "zero emission" car according to the company.

According to the company, the car will start being produced in 2021.

The Geneva Motor show started on Tuesday with two days of press days.

The show opens to the public on Thursday.

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