SHOTLIST

1. Wide of a joint news conference by Toyota Motor Corp. and BMW management

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Klaus Draeger, Member of BMW AG, development board of management:

"In future, the BMW group, and Toyota Motor Corporation, will work together in what is designed to be a long term technological partnership. By carrying out basic research together, we want to speed up the development of battery cell technologies."

3. Wide of news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President and Representative Director of Toyota Motor Corp:

"And we at Toyota are exploring possibilities across a full range of technologies. The battery technology that we will develop with BMW will be the core technology for both reducing and replacing petroleum fuel."

5. Pan from media to photo session

6. Close of handshake

STORYLINE:

Auto giants Toyota and BMW said on Thursday they had agreed to collaborate on research for cleaner, next-generation batteries, underlining the growing push in the industry for green technology.

The agreement brings together Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's No. 1 carmaker and a leader in petrol-electric hybrids, and BMW AG of Germany, a European maker that has a strong luxury brand image in both Japan and Europe.

"In future, the BMW group, and Toyota Motor Corporation, will work together in what is designed to be a long term technological partnership," Klaus Draeger, Member of BMW AG, development board of management said.

The two automakers will also work on improving lithium-ion battery technology, typically used in batteries for electronic gadgets and relatively new to autos.

Toyota has struggled to find a good lithium-ion battery for its green cars and is using technology from Japanese electronics maker Sanyo Electric Co. in its latest plug-in hybrid, for which Toyota has recently started taking orders.

Toyota had worked with Panasonic Corp. on a battery before the electronics maker acquired Sanyo, partly to get better lithium-ion technology.

"And we at Toyota are exploring possibilities across a full range of technologies. The battery technology that we will develop with BMW will be the core technology for both reducing and replacing petroleum fuel," Toyota Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada told reporters at a Tokyo news conference.

Toyota and BMW have been engaged in extended discussions on technology and plan to collaborate on other medium-term and long-term projects, he said.

BMW will also begin supplying "clean" diesel engines to Toyota in 2014 for models for the European market.

Diesel engines for passenger cars are huge in Europe but have yet to take off in the U.S. or Japan, the two major markets where Toyota is strong.

Toyota does not have enough clean diesel engines for its European offerings.

Under their agreement, BMW is supplying 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre fuel-efficient diesel engines for Toyota.

They declined to give details on models.

The announcement was timed with the Tokyo Motor Show, which opens to the public on Saturday.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4081168

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

LEAD IN:

Toyota has revamped its plug-in hybrid with a longer cruising range and quicker charging.

The new Prius PHV also comes with solar panels and can be charged by plugging into a regular home electricity socket.

STORY-LINE:

This is Toyota's new Prius plug-in hybrid (PHV) which goes on sale in Japan today (Wednesday 15 Feb 2017).

The auto maker is hoping it will sell better than the first model from five years ago that officials acknowledged had flopped.

Sales in the U.S., where it's called Prius Prime, started late last year. It is set to launch in Europe and other countries in March.

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Toyota Motor Corporation, Takeshi Uchiyamada calls the PHV the future of eco cars.

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

A hybrid switches between a gas engine and an electric motor that is powered by that gas engine.

A plug-in hybrid can travel further as a pure electric vehicle, which is zero-emission, but needs recharging when its battery is spent.

The cruising range of the new plug-in as an electric vehicle is 68.2 kilometres (42.4 miles), about five times the earlier model's 26.4 kilometres (16.4 miles).

Deputy Chief Engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation, Shoichi Kaneko says the Prius PHV can also be charged using solar panels on the roof.

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

Toyota says the car can drive up to 6.1 kilometres per day on solar power generated power.

The car can be fully charged in two hours and 20 minutes, from a 200-volt outlet and in 14 hours at a 100-volt outlet. At a special charging machine, it reaches an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes.

Toyota hopes to sell 2,500 PHV cars in Japan a month. It gave no overseas targets. It sold only 22,000 of the earlier PHVs.

The lacklustre sales contrast with Toyota's leadership in hybrid vehicles; it has sold 10 million globally since the first Prius went on sale in 1997.

Nearly half of the vehicles Toyota sells in Japan are hybrid models.

Tokyo – 15 February 2017

1. Close of the new Prius PHV being unveiled

2. Wide of Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation, on the stage

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board of directors, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"This is the key and core of the eco car and this is the car which should become the mainstream of the eco car from now on. What comes after the hybrid car? That will be PHV (plug in hybrid). This is Toyota's answer."

4. Close of new Prius PHV

5. Wide of Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, on stage

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shoichi Kaneko, Deputy Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation:

"Finally, we converted solar energy to driving energy. We have made the option of a solar energy charging system available which will become a first for the mass production car."

7. Various of solar panel on the roof part of Prius PHV

8. Close of PHV sign

9. Various of plug in part on the side of the car

10. Close of Prius PHV sign

11. Various of Toyota managers and Japanese actresss who will front the TV ad for the Prius PHV

Toyota will invest one (b) billion US dollars in a research company to develop artificial intelligence and robotics, underlining the Japanese automaker's determination to lead in futuristic cars that drive themselves and apply the technology to other areas of daily life.

Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, said in Tokyo on Friday that the company would start operating from January 2016, with 200 employees at a Silicon Valley facility near Stanford University in the United States.

A second facility will be established near Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, also in the US.

The investment, which will be spread over five years, comes on top of the 50 (m) million US dollars Toyota announced earlier for artificial intelligence research at Stanford and MIT.

High-profile robotics expert, Gill Pratt, will head the new organisation which will be called Toyota Research Institute Inc.

Pratt was formerly a programme manager at the US military's Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency.

He joined Toyota as a technical adviser when it set up its artificial intelligence research effort at Stanford and MIT.

Pratt said the company's goals were to support older people in their homes with robotics, make cars free of accidents and use artificial intelligence to allow all people to drive, regardless of ability.

Toyota will invest one (b) billion US dollars in a research company to develop artificial intelligence and robotics, underlining the Japanese automaker's determination to lead in futuristic cars that drive themselves and apply the technology to other areas of daily life.

Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, said in Tokyo on Friday that the company would start operating from January 2016, with 200 employees at a Silicon Valley facility near Stanford University in the United States.

A second facility will be established near Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, also in the US.

The investment, which will be spread over five years, comes on top of the 50 (m) million US dollars Toyota announced earlier for artificial intelligence research at Stanford and MIT.

High-profile robotics expert, Gill Pratt, will head the new organisation which will be called Toyota Research Institute Inc.

Pratt was formerly a programme manager at the US military's Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency.

He joined Toyota as a technical adviser when it set up its artificial intelligence research effort at Stanford and MIT.

Pratt said the company's goals were to support older people in their homes with robotics, make cars free of accidents and use artificial intelligence to allow all people to drive, regardless of ability.

AP TELEVISION

Tokyo - 6 November 2015

1. President of Toyota Motor Corporation, Akio Toyoda, and Executive Technical Advisor, Gill Pratt, walking towards podium

2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, Toyota Motor Corporation President:

"I believe artificial intelligence technology has the potential to change our future lives and society dramatically. I am working with this technology focused on cars at the moment, but in the future I believe it will become the core of various industries. I believe it has big potential to go further than cars and to create a new industry."

3. Cutaway of journalists

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gill Pratt, Toyota Executive Technical Advisor:

"Because the problem (referring to rapid aging of population) is more difficult here, I believe that companies in Japan understand this problem very significantly and very well. And so I think that to address this problem, as well as other problems in society - of course, Japan is a wonderful society where there is tremendous bonding between people, the idea we are all responsible for each other and for social good - I thought working with Toyota is actually the best choice."

5. Various of Toyoda and Pratt shaking hands

6. Wide of news conference

JAPAN HYBRID CAR

SOURCE: AP TELEVISION NEWS

RESTRICTIONS: TECHNOLOGY CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH 2:42

SHOTLIST:

Tokyo - July 25, 2007

1. Toyota "Plug-In Hybrid" car driving away

2. Close up of power plug -in

3. Wide pan shot of a man charging electric charger into the feeder

4. Pan shot of the side of car from the sign saying "plug-in hybrid" to the electric charging point

5. Tilt up of the car

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Yoshikazu Tanaka, Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation

"Electric vehicles have some obstacles such as the initial cost, not very convenient charging spots available and the long time to charge the car in order to for them to be realistic at the moment. But, with this (Toyota's plug-in hybrid) technology, it will become easier to have eco vehicle. The users themselves can contribute to protecting the environment by charging their cars by themselves. Users themselves take part in using clean energy. We think this will become a trigger to change the current way we power cars "

7. Pan from ground to car driving through

8. Prius driving through

9. Pan shot from traffic of the conventional cars to gas station

10. Close up of metre

11. Mid shot of fuelling

12. Back shot of sign saying Plug In Hybrid to Prius driving forward

LEAD IN :

Toyota Motor Corp have unveiled a new plug-in hybrid vehicle.

Plug-in hybrids, including Toyota's, generally have batteries that power an electric motor, with an internal combustion engine for use when the batteries run low.

The batteries can be recharged by plugging them into a standard wall outlet.

The plug-ins run longer on electricity, especially for shorter distances, than the more common hybrids on the roads such as Toyota's Prius.

STORYLINE:

The Toyota Plug-in HV is a hybrid car that you can power up at home.

The latest eco-car unveiled by Toyota runs on the same nickel metal hydride battery as the Toyota Prius and has a cruising range of 8 miles (13 kilometres) on electricity, which is further than similar cars on the market like the Prius.

Toyota is the first manufacturer to receive government approval to conduct tests for a plug-in hybrid on Japanese public roads.

Yoshikazu Tanaka, Chief Engineer at Toyota says this car may change the way people fuel their vehicles.

So far mass production of plug-ins is so far being held back by costs and battery technology that limit the vehicles' range.

Manufacturers are racing to bring the technology to market as consumers seek alternatives to traditional engines and high petrol prices.

Although most automakers are working on hybrids, Toyota has the advantage of 10 years of experience in selling the technology, and 10 years of feedback from drivers on which to base improvements, rather than relying on information from labs.

Toyota has placed a large emphasis on hybrid technology:

It offers several hybrid models besides the Prius, including the hybrid Camry and hybrid Lexus models.

It has set a target of selling a million hybrids a year sometime after 2010.

The more common hybrids such as the Prius switch between an electric motor and petrol engine to deliver better mileage.

They don't need to be plugged in to recharge because they recharge the motor as they run, converting energy from the wheels and braking.

Toyota said in June 2007 that its cumulative sales of hybrids passed 1 million vehicles since it began selling the Prius a decade ago.

Details of its plug-in hybrid tests for the U.S. and Europe are still undecided.

General Motors is developing the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and says it hopes its plug-ins can reach showrooms

by 2010.

Earlier this month, Ford announced a partnership with Southern California Edison to test rechargeable hybrid vehicles and hasten mass production of plug-in hybrids.

Ford has been testing plug-in hybrids based on the Escape sport-utility vehicle, for one, but has not said when it plans to start mass producing them.

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SHOTLIST:

1. Wide then zoom in of "Robina" the robot, moving in zigzag motion on a stage

2. Close of Robina's body zooming out to a mid

3. Mid then zoom in of Robina taking a pen

4. Mid of Robina taking a notebook then writing its autograph

5. Close of Robina signing its name

6. Zoom in of Robina showing her autograph that it had just written on notebook

7. Cutaway of photographers

8. Wide of the "Violin Robot"

9. Close of violin robot showing the robot playing the violin, pan right, zoom out

10. A man riding the "Mobiro", a mobility robot, and greeting a woman who joins him on another Mobiro robot

11. Tilt up of man riding Mobiro

12. Close then tilt up of the man on Mobiro

13. Wide of two people on Mobiro waving their hands

14. Wide of press conference with Katsuaki Watanabe, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, standing at podium

15. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Katsuaki Watanabe, President of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"We have created robots in the past years, and our idea has been to establish a better relationship between robots and people. Robots should help and support human activities. I wish to see a huge development in robots for people and society so we hope to put that into real use soon."

16. Violin robot waving

STORYLINE:

Toyota unveiled three of its "partner robots" on Thursday, a showcase for their newest robotic technology.

'Robina', a legless robot-on-wheels, has since earlier this year been working as a guide in the showroom at Toyota's headquarters.

Her feminine voice introduces herself, talks about the company, and is extremely knowledgeable on Toyota cars.

In Thursday's demonstration, Robina interacted smoothly with a human, including carrying on a simple dialogue.

It also showed how it could sign its name in script, holding a fat felt-tip pen with its three fingers.

The second robot featured was "Violin Robot", which played Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance".

Compared to a human professional, its rendition was a trifle stilted and, well, robotic, though accurate.

The 152-centimetre (five-foot) tall all-white robot, used its mechanical fingers to push the strings correctly and bowed with its other arm, coordinating the movements well.

Katsuaki Watanabe, President of Toyota Motor Corporation, said robotics would become a core business for the company.

Toyota will test out its robots at hospitals, Toyota-related facilities and other places starting next year, he said. And the company hopes to put what it calls "partner robots" into use by 2010, he said.

Watanabe and other Toyota officials said robotics was a natural extension of the car maker's use of robots in manufacturing, as well the development of technology for autos related to artificial intelligence, such as sensors and pre-crash safety systems.

"We have created robots in the past years, and our idea has been to establish a better relationship between robots and people." Said Watanabe. " Robots should help and support human activities. I wish to see a vast development in robots for people and society so we hope to put that into real use soon."

Toyota Motor Corporation has already shown robots that roll around to work as guides and have fingers dexterous enough play the trumpet.

Watanabe presented a picture of the future, in which wheelchair-like "mobility robots," which Toyota also showed on Thursday, would offer "bed-to-bed" services to people, including the elderly and the sick, just like cars take people "door-to-door."

At the demonstration, two people showed up riding on the mobility robots and scooted around, waving to each other, on the moving two-wheeled chairs.

The Japanese automaker, which makes the Prius hybrid, the best-selling Camry sedan and Lexus luxury model, has been a latecomer in robots compared to its domestic rival Honda Motor Company.

Toyota said it was working with universities and its group companies to speed up robotics development, but ruled out a collaboration with Honda for the time being.

Other major Japanese companies, including Hitachi Limited, Fujitsu Limited and NEC Corporation, have developed robots.

Keyword wacky

SHOTLIST:

Tokyo, Japan - 9 May 2007

1. Wide of Katsuaki Watanabe, President of Toyota, walking into news conference

2. Cutaway of media

3. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Katsuaki Watanabe, President of Toyota:

"Rather than think about other companies, I feel that we must do our utmost to satisfy customers around the world. I believe that it is an important factor to put the utmost effort in trying to sell 8.89 (m) million cars. Different divisions within the company such as the development sector to marketing sector need to improve in quality. This would be our focus and something that cannot be missed. There is plenty left for us to do."

4. Various cutaways of news briefing

5. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Katsuaki Watanabe, President of Toyota:

"It concerns the internal issues of our company, but as you may see, we need to seek to resolve issues in development and marketing. We see them as opportunities even in difficult times, and we will strive to continue to achieve growth."

6. Various of Lexus cars displayed at Toyota showroom

7. Various of Prius, Toyota's hybrid car

FILE:

Tokyo, Japan - 19 October 2005

8. Zoom into model at General Motors auto show

9. Various of General Motors cars display at the motor show

FILE:

Lansing, Michigan - 15 February 2001

10. Various of General Motors assembly plant

STORYLINE:

Toyota's profit in the January-March quarter climbed nine-percent as the automaker marked its seventh straight fiscal year of record sales amid robust demand for its Corolla, Camry and Lexus models.

Toyota Motor Corporation, which beat General Motors (GM) in worldwide vehicle production and sales in the first quarter for the first time ever, reported a quarterly group profit of 440.1 (b) billion yen (3.67 (b) billion US dollars) from 404 (b) billion yen the same period the previous year.

Toyota's sales are surging as soaring gas prices boost the appeal of its models, which are reputed worldwide for fuel-efficiency, including gas-and-electric hybrids like the Prius.

Analysts say Toyota is growing so quickly it's just a matter of time before it overtakes problem-laden General Motors Corp. of the US to become the world's number-one automaker, a title that technically hinges on annual worldwide vehicle production.

Toyota's sales in the fiscal fourth quarter rose ten-percent to 6.3 (t) trillion yen (52.5 (b) billion US dollars) from 5.75 (t) trillion yen the previous year.

Detroit-based GM, the world's largest automaker the last 76 years, is seeing its US market share shrink, and has announced a restructuring plan to stem billions in losses.

Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe was typically understated when asked about the prospects of beating GM.

"Rather than think about other companies, I feel that we must do our utmost to satisfy customers around the world," he said.

"There is plenty left for us to do," he added.

He said his company aims to boost sales in "every region" around the world, while acknowledging the auto industry remains tough, with many obstacles.

"We see them as opportunities, and we will strive to continue to achieve growth," he told reporters at a Tokyo hotel.

Toyota sold 2.35 (m) million vehicles worldwide in the January-March period, surpassing the 2.266 (m) million vehicles GM sold in the quarter.

Earlier this month, GM reported a 62 (m) million US dollars profit in the first three months of the year for a second consecutive quarter of black ink.

It lost 10.4 (b) billion US dollars in 2005 but underwent massive restructuring and trimmed its losses to two (b) billion US dollars in 2006.

There will only be a few hundred, and they won't be cheap, but Toyota is about to take its first small step into the unproven market for emissions-free, hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The world's largest automaker announced Tuesday that it will begin selling fuel cell cars in Japan on December 15, and in the US and Europe in mid-2015.

The sporty-looking, four-door Toyota Mirai will retail for 6,700,000 yen (57,600 US dollars) before taxes.

Toyota Motor Corp hopes to sell 400 in Japan and 300 in the rest of the world in the first year.

Fuel cell vehicles run on compressed hydrogen gas, which in the Mirai's case is stored in two tanks mounted underneath the vehicle.

They emit no exhaust, though fossil fuels are used in the production of hydrogen and to pressurise it. Both Honda and Hyundai have or are also experimenting with limited sales and leases of fuel cell cars.

Besides the relatively high cost, buyers will have to contend with finding fuel.

Only a few dozen hydrogen filling stations have been built worldwide, though governments are subsidising the construction of more.

It's an uncertain future that depends both on whether makers can bring down the price, and a wide-enough network of filling stations is built.

Sales will be limited to the primarily urban areas that have stations.

In Japan, with about 30 stations, that means the regions around Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya cities in central and western Japan and the northern part of Kyushu island in the south.

A few stations have opened in California in the United States, and there are plans to build some in the Northeast. Germany and the United Kingdom are among European countries that have or plan to build them.

The first buyers are expected to be affluent people who are environmental aware, and governments and companies that want to go green.

The Mirai can travel 650 to 700 kilometers (400-435 miles) on its two tanks of hydrogen.

Hydrogen may be more expensive than gas initially, because there are so few customers but, over time, Toyota expects it will be cheaper to run a car on hydrogen than with gas.vehicles a year.

The company's Executive Vice President Mitsuhisa Kato said he was confident "its innovation will surpass the Prius."

Both Honda and Hyundai have or are also experimenting with limited sales and leases of fuel cell cars.

AP TELEVISION

Tokyo - 18 November 2014

1. Toyota's hydrogen-powered car - "Mirai" appearing on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Yoshikazu Tanaka, Toyota Motor Deputy Chief Engineer:

"It is a car of the next century, a car that leads to making a society use hydrogen energy. To realise this concept, we have put in all our advanced technology into the development. As a result, we believe we developed a car that is not only good for the environment, but it is also a vehicle that is fun, quiet, pleasurable and comfortable to drive."

3. Various of Toyota Mirai driving along streets

4. Toyota Motor Executive Vice President Mitsuhisa Kato on stage

5. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Mitsuhisa Kato, Toyota Motor Executive Vice President:

"The FCV (fuel cell vehicle) - if hydrogen energy is once accepted, it will make a great difference in the society. I believe its innovation will surpass the Prius."

6. Logo on car reading (English): "Fuel Cell"

7. Various set up shots of Hans Greimel, auto analyst at Toyota's press conference venue

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Hans Greimel, Asia Editor of Automotive News:

"Well, they often say that the hydrogen fuel cell car is is kind of like the car of the future. But now we finally see the future gradually creeping closer. There hasn't been a lot of effort yet to really make a marketable retail-ready fuel cell car. But here we see Toyota taking a step in that direction where putting of a retail price on a car, which is something that's a little bit new. We're also putting volumes on a car, sales volumes on a car, that's also kind of a new direction. So we're seeing that the fuel cell, hydrogen-powered cars are becoming more of a... creeping closer to reality."

9. Various of exhibited Mirai with open bonnet

10. Fuel Cell logo

SHOTLIST :

Tokyo, 1 August 2008

1. Toyota executive Takeshi Uchiyamada riding the "L" version of Winglet, a scooter with handles, in news conference

2. Various of Uchiyamada on Winglet

3. Wide of Uchiyamada at podium

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota executive:

"The concept of the robot is to make a better life for people in society. Our goal is to add to safety and comfort in the living environment, and for it to be a partner-robot to help people."

5. Close up of a different version of "M" version of the Winglet, a scooter without handles

6. Developer of Winglet demonstrating it to reporters

7. Projection showing developer on Winglet

8. Close up of M type Winglet, zoom out to the demonstration

9. Tilt up of M type Winglet

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Yoshihiro Kawarasaki, Toyota's developer of Winglet:

"This robot is portable, lightweight, and compact. It is easy to control and accessible to anyone. The high mobility robot is environmentally friendly and has a fine performance for the safety of the people."

11. Various of Uchiyamada demonstrating L type Winglet

STORYLINE:

Japanese automaker Toyota showed a motorised stand-up-and-ride contraption on Friday that would help people scoot around at malls and airports.

The "Winglet," so named for supposedly helping people move as though they had grown wings, takes some getting used to.

The two-wheeler is similar to a Segway, except it's slower, going up to 6 kph (3.7 mph), about the same speed as pedestrians.

It stops easily with little pressure, pivots full-circle and has been developed to be safe in crowded areas, according to Toyota Motor Corp.

It also goes smoothly over bumps on roads.

The machine is designed to respond almost intuitively, moving forward when you lean to the front, and turning when you sway to the right or left, similar to skiing.

One of three models shown comes with a protruding handle that can be grabbed and used like a steering wheel.

But Winglet has a long way to go before it can be a practical option for its intended audience of the elderly and others who find long-distance walking strenuous.

More seasoned riders, like Toyota engineers, were zipping around as though the thing was a skateboard.

They said anyone can get used to it with time, and it can be quite fun.

Toyota executive Takeshi Uchiyamada, who scooted on to the stage on the device, said no plans are set to sell the Winglet as a commercial product, and pricing is also not decided.

"The concept of the robot is to make a better life for people in society. Our goal is to add to safety and comfort in the living environment, and for it to be a partner-robot to help people," he said.

Toyota said it will start testing Winglet later this year at a Japanese airport and resort complex and next year at a shopping mall to get public feedback.

Overseas test plans are undecided.

The smallest version of Winglet, weighing 9.9 kilograms (22 pounds), can be folded up to be carried around in commuter trains or packed in car trunks, Toyota said.

Toyota envisions a future in which Winglet will be packed with wireless technology so it relays shopping information at stores.

Or it may move on its own and go recharge its batteries or come pick you up when you beckon it, toting your luggage.

Toyota has previously shown human-shaped robots that play the violin and the trumpet.

It has also shown an experimental single-seat vehicle that resembles a motorised wheelchair.

Keyword wacky

Toyota Motor Corp. and Panasonic Corp. announced on Wednesday that they will begin talks to jointly develop batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).

The two Japanese companies have a long history of cooperation in producing batteries for hybrid vehicles, an area Toyota has been focusing on.

The Japanese auto giant currently has no EVs in its lineup, however.

Toyota has been leading eco-friendly cars since it launched the Prius, the world's first mass production hybrid vehicle, in 1997, followed by the Mirai fuel cell vehicle in 2014.

Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda, who took part in a news conference with Panasonic Corporation President Kazuhiro Tsuga in Tokyo, said the speed of change in the car industry was so fast, the company needed to engage with others such as Panasonic with their battery expertise so Japanese companies can be leaders in the EV industry.

Panasonic has been a leading maker in automotive lithium-ion batteries applied by automakers worldwide.

Panasonic's Tsuga meanwhile said his company hopes by working with Toyota it can advance improvements in its battery capability as well as possibly aim at developing the next generation of batteries.

Tokyo – 13 December 2017

1. Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda (screen-left) and Panasonic Corporation President Kazuhiro Tsuga at news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"The teaming up of the two companies in order to realise a richer and more fun mobile society than now will be a crystalisation of two Japanese companies that intend to lead this electric vehicle era."

3. Wide of news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Kazuhiro Tsuga, President of Panasonic Corporation:

I think it (the battery) is a key factor for a wider use of EV (Electric Vehicles) and to realise a sustainable society as well as being an important business for us, Panasonic. In this context, we will further advance measurements to develop and produce (car batteries) by strengthening our cooperation with the car makers."

5. Various of Toyoda and Tsuga shaking hands and posing for the cameras

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation:

"EV is a vehicle that carries a heavy and expensive battery. That's what people think. If we continue to do what we are doing now, we cannot change this situation so we need to work with our alliance companies such as Panasonic to seek for 'better' production."

FILE: Tokyo – 25 October 2017

7. Various of Concept-i (EV Car) at the Tokyo Motor Show 2017

8. Various of Fine-Comfort Ride (Fuel Cell Car) at the Tokyo Motor Show 2017

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

Japanese automaker Toyota and electronics giant Panasonic are forming a joint venture combining their housing businesses in Japan to showcase technologies such as connected cars and the internet of things.

Toyota Motor Corp., which offers housing as well as vehicles in Japan, said the new company will offer homes showcasing those technologies.

Panasonic Corp. said its housing subsidiary will become part of the joint venture.

The companies said Thursday the deal should concluded by January 2020.

Both sides said communities will increasingly want connected cars, autonomous driving, car-sharing and ecological vehicles, and homes offering sustainable energy and gadgetry.

Earlier this year, Toyota and Panasonic announced a joint venture to research, manufacture and sell batteries for ecological autos, an increasingly lucrative sector amid concerns about global warming.

The companies have been studying working together on batteries since 2017.

Tokyo - 9 May 2019

1. Wide of press conference

2. Zoom-out of Masayoshi Shirayanagi, Operating Officer at Toyota Motor Corporation, walking

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Masayoshi Shirayanagi, Operating Officer at Toyota Motor Corporation:

"By providing mobility and livelihood technology from Toyota and Panasonic, housing makers and construction companies can promote and create a new kind of town development. That is the goal of establishing this joint venture."

4. Wide of press conference

5. Wide of people

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Makoto Kitano, Senior Managing Executive Officer and CEO of Life Solutions Company at Panasonic Corporation:

"We want to highly optimise cutting edge technology to provide safe, comfortable and convenient living. At the same time, we aim to create a town that can be updated daily so residents will be satisfied."

7. Close of people

8. Close pan from Toyota to Panasonic logos

9. Wide of press conference

SHOTLIST:

FILE: Tokyo - 14 October 1997

1. Various of original Toyota Prius on display at its launch

Tokyo - 2 June 2011

2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Rokusaburo Yamane, Consultant:

"Toyota needs to go back to its roots. I'm not particular about the technical problems that they are facing. I think the bigger problem was that Toyota got weaker because they kept things too unclear. Toyota used to be a customer-first company and now it's payback time."

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Vox pop, Tadashi Miki, 75 years old:

"What a waste. Toyota had so much energy and rose to be the leading manufacturer (of cars). They are in pain but I think they will make a comeback."

4. Wide pan of pedestrian area

STORYLINE:

Toyota recalled 106-thousand first-generation Prius hybrid cars globally on Wednesday for faulty steering caused by a nut that may come loose.

The single minor accident suspected of being related to the problem was reported in the US, according to Toyota Motor Corp.

The latest recall from Toyota, which has taken hit to its reputation from massive recalls worldwide, affects 48-thousand Prius vehicles in Japan, starting with the first Prius models that went on sale in 1997, and those manufactured through 2003.

It also affects 58-thousand vehicles sold abroad, including 52-thousand Prius cars sold from 2001 through 2003 in the US, some 12-hundred in Great Britain, and 800 in Germany, a company spokesman said.

Toyota says loose nuts in the electric-power steering can cause the vehicle, if operated over a long time, to steer with too much force.

The problem can be fixed by putting in better nuts and will take about four hours, it said.

In Japan, Toyota also recalled 21,600 iQ small-cars for braking problems, caused by a valve that became faulty during manufacturing, possibly causing braking power to decline.

Twenty-one complaints were received that may be caused by the problem, but there were no accidents, the automaker said.

In the US and Canada, Toyota recalled 34 Venza and 16 Sienna 2011 model vehicles to replace an insufficiently treated drive-shaft.

The drive-shaft could break, causing the vehicle to stall, according to Toyota.

Over the last two years, Toyota has announced massive recalls ballooning to more than 14 million vehicles.

Its once sterling reputation has come under scrutiny.

It faces damage lawsuits and lingering doubts in the US on whether it had been transparent enough about the recall woes.

On the streets of Tokyo on Wednesday, some residents said the company "needs to go back to its roots" and that "they will make a comeback".

SHOTLIST:

FILE: Tokyo - 14 October 1997

1. Various of original Toyota Prius on display at its launch

Tokyo - 2 June 2011

2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Rokusaburo Yamane, Consultant:

"Toyota needs to go back to its roots. I'm not particular about the technical problems that they are facing. I think the bigger problem was that Toyota got weaker because they kept things too unclear. Toyota used to be a customer-first company and now it's payback time."

3. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Vox pop, Tadashi Miki, 75 years old:

"What a waste. Toyota had so much energy and rose to be the leading manufacturer (of cars). They are in pain but I think they will make a comeback."

4. Wide pan of pedestrian area

STORYLINE:

Toyota recalled 106-thousand first-generation Prius hybrid cars globally on Wednesday for faulty steering caused by a nut that may come loose.

The single minor accident suspected of being related to the problem was reported in the US, according to Toyota Motor Corp.

The latest recall from Toyota, which has taken hit to its reputation from massive recalls worldwide, affects 48-thousand Prius vehicles in Japan, starting with the first Prius models that went on sale in 1997, and those manufactured through 2003.

It also affects 58-thousand vehicles sold abroad, including 52-thousand Prius cars sold from 2001 through 2003 in the US, some 12-hundred in Great Britain, and 800 in Germany, a company spokesman said.

Toyota says loose nuts in the electric-power steering can cause the vehicle, if operated over a long time, to steer with too much force.

The problem can be fixed by putting in better nuts and will take about four hours, it said.

In Japan, Toyota also recalled 21,600 iQ small-cars for braking problems, caused by a valve that became faulty during manufacturing, possibly causing braking power to decline.

Twenty-one complaints were received that may be caused by the problem, but there were no accidents, the automaker said.

In the US and Canada, Toyota recalled 34 Venza and 16 Sienna 2011 model vehicles to replace an insufficiently treated drive-shaft.

The drive-shaft could break, causing the vehicle to stall, according to Toyota.

Over the last two years, Toyota has announced massive recalls ballooning to more than 14 million vehicles.

Its once sterling reputation has come under scrutiny.

It faces damage lawsuits and lingering doubts in the US on whether it had been transparent enough about the recall woes.

On the streets of Tokyo on Wednesday, some residents said the company "needs to go back to its roots" and that "they will make a comeback".

JAPAN TOYOTA

SOURCE: AP TELEVISION

RESTRICTIONS: TECHNOLOGY CLIENTS ONLY

LENGTH: 4:22

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 17 November 2014

1. Various of Toyota's "Mirai"driving by

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 18 November 2014

2. Pan right from media to wide of Mitsuhisa Kato, Toyota Motor Corp Executive Vice President (left) and Yoshikazu Tanaka, Toyota Motor Corp product planning group's Deputy Chief Engineer posing with car

3. Close of Kato and Tanaka

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Mitsuhisa Kato, Toyota Motor Corp Executive Vice President:

"The "FCV" - if hydrogen energy is accepted, it will make a great difference in the society. I believe its innovation will surpass the Prius."

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 17 November 2014

5. Low shot of Toyota's "Mirai" driving by

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 18 November 2014

6. Wide of model showing fuel cell system

7. Close of Fuel filler

8. Pan left of model showing fuel cell system

9. Close of Fuel cell stack

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 17 November 2014

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Hitoshi Nomasa, Toyota Motor Corp Project Manager of Mirai:

"The fuel cell stack is the heart of this vehicle, and furthermore, the "cell" is the key. Including its reliability, we put much of the effort in reducing the size and maximising the power of the fuel cell stack that had to be installed in an automobile. The mass production technology is also another factor that we focused on and we finally came to this point (of putting it out on the market)."

11. Pan left of Mirai driving by

12. Various of Mirai interior as it drives

13. Wide of Mirai passing by sign reading (English): "JHFC, Japan Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Demonstration Project"

14. Wide of Mirai arriving at hydrogen station pump

15. Various of fuelling process

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 18 November 2014

16. Setup shot of Haans Griemel, Asia Editor of Automotive News, speaking with man

17. Close up of Griemel

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Haans Griemel, Asia Editor of Automotive News:

"The most challenging part of this car's roll out is of course the infrastructure. It's kind of a chicken and egg type of a problem. People want to buy the car only if there's an infrastructure, but there won't be the infrastructure unless people are buying the cars. So, that's the biggest hurdle I would say right now, it's just getting a fuelling network up and running so that people aren't afraid to drive this car across the country."

19. Wide of press conference

20. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Yoshikazu Tanaka, Toyota Motor Corp Product Planning Group's Deputy Chief Engineer:

"Our goal for the release in 2015 was originally decided in 2011 when the infrastructure providers, automakers and the government agreed and announced its plan to have the infrastructure ready by year 2015. We timed it - in a way - to synchronise with the similar movement happening in Europe and in America so we went along with that."

21. Close of Mirai's front interior

22. Close of logo reading (English) "FUELCELL"

23. Wide of Mirai

24. Pull focus of Toyota logo

AP Television

Tokyo, Japan - 17 November 2014

25. Low shot of Mirai driving past

LEADIN:

Toyota is about to take its first small step into the unproven market of emissions-free, hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The world's largest automaker has announced it will begin selling a limited number of its fuel cell car - named 'Mirai' - from December in Japan and later in mid-2015 across the US and Europe.

STORYLINE:

It's named the Toyota Mirai and now this sporty-looking four-door is stealing all the attention in Tokyo.

At a press event on Tuesday (18 November), the Japanese car manufacturers unveiled their latest creation to the media.

It's set to retail for 6.7 million yen ($57,600 USD) before taxes.

But if you're hoping to get your hands on you'll have to be quick, Toyota Motor Corp only expect to sell 400 in Japan and 300 in the rest of the world in the first year.

More importantly, it represents a seismic shift for the Japanese automakers, the Mirai is their first emissions-free, hydrogen-powered vehicle.

"The "FCV" - if hydrogen energy is accepted, it will make a great difference in the society," says Mitsuhisa Kato, Toyota Motor Corp's executive vice president.

"I believe its innovation will surpass the Prius."

Fuel cell vehicles run on compressed hydrogen gas, which - in Mirai's case - is stored in two tanks mounted underneath the vehicle.

They emit no exhaust, though fossil fuels are used in the production of hydrogen and to pressurise it.

According to those involved with its creation, the most difficult factor in developing the vehicle was its fuel cell stack.

"The fuel cell stack is the heart of this vehicle, and furthermore, the "cell" is the key," says Hitoshi Nomasa, project manager of Mirai.

"Including its reliability, we put much of the effort in reducing the size and maximising the power of the fuel cell stack that had to be installed in an automobile. The mass production technology is also another factor that we focused on and we finally came to this point (of putting it out on the market)."

The stack outputs a maximum of 114 KW.

According to Toyota, the efficiency of its electricity generation has been improved by using 3D fine mesh flow channels to ensure uniform generation on cell surfaces - a world first.

Other Asian automakers, Honda and Hyundai, are also experimenting with limited sales and leases of fuel cell cars.

Honda recently showed off a fuel cell concept.

Besides the relatively high cost, buyers will have to contend with finding fuel - only a few dozen hydrogen filling stations have been built worldwide, though governments are subsidising the construction of more.

It's an uncertain future that depends both on whether makers can bring down the price and if a wide-enough network of filling stations is built.

According to auto analyst Haans Griemel, the most challenging part of selling the FCVs is the problem of infrastructure.

"The most challenging part of this car's roll out is of course the infrastructure," he says.

"It's kind of a chicken and egg type of a problem. People want to buy the car only if there's an infrastructure, but there won't be the infrastructure unless people are buying the cars. So, that's the biggest hurdle I would say right now, it's just getting a fuelling network up and running so that people aren't afraid to drive this car across the country."

Yoshikazu Tanaka, the deputy chief engineer for Toyota's next generation vehicle development, says he expects it will take 10-20 years for the Mirai to reach sales in the tens of thousands of vehicles a year.

This release was timed with what's happening around the world.

"Our goal for the release in 2015 was originally decided in 2011 when the infrastructure providers, automakers and the government agreed and announced its plan to have the infrastructure ready by year 2015," says Tanaka.

"We timed it - in a way - to synchronise with the similar movement happening in Europe and in America so we went along with that."

Toyota faced a similar scenario with its gasoline-electric hybrid - the Prius - which now sells in big numbers.

Hoping to offset the inconvenience of finding fuel, Toyota gave the car a futuristic look inside and out - Mirai means 'future' in Japanese.

It accelerates quickly, from about 40 to 70 kilometres (25 to 45 miles) per hour.

The Japanese government also plans to offer a 2 million yen ($17,136 USD) subsidy to purchasers of fuel cell cars, reducing the effective price to 4.7 million yen ($40,270 USD).

Sales will be limited to the primarily urban areas that have fueling stations.

In Japan, there are about 30 stations.

They're in the regions around Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya cities in central and western Japan and the northern part of Kyushu Island in the south.

A few stations have opened in California in the United States and there are plans to build some in the Northeast.

Germany and the UK are among European countries that have or plan to build them.

According to Toyota, they currently have about 200 pre-orders for the vehicle, mainly from government agencies and companies that want to go green.

The Mirai can travel 650 to 700 kilometres (400-435 miles) on its two tanks of hydrogen.

In the US, its range is 300 miles because of different driving conditions.

Hydrogen may be more expensive than gas initially, because there are so few customers but - over time - Toyota expects it will be cheaper to run a car on hydrogen than gas.

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LEAD IN:

Eco-friendly rides and self-driving vehicles are stealing all the headlines at the annual Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

Japanese auto makers Toyota, Honda and Lexus are all debuting new concept vehicles which embrace lower carbon technologies in comparison to traditional petrol engines.

STORY-LINE:

Automobiles are coming in all shapes and sizes at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, on Toyota's stand they're even glowing like something out of a sci-fi movie.

On home soil, Toyota President Akio Toyoda introduced a collection of concept cars accompanied by popular Japanese Major League baseball player, Ichiro Suzuki.

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive," says the baseball player.

"Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow' Toyota will show us."

The Toyota president took the opportunity to declare the company's intention to play a leading role in the auto industry, wowing drivers in the process.

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment," says Toyoda.

"'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

The key concept car Toyota is unveiling this year is this new generation fuel cell vehicle called the 'Toyota FCV Plus'.

The vehicle has the capability to generate electricity by using hydrogen stored outside the vehicle.

That way, the car can function not only as a vehicle but also be used as a sort of portable power plant.

The automaker also unveiled this lightweight sports car concept called the 'Toyota S-FR'. Weighing only 980kg, it's designed for nimble driving.

Hans Greimel, an auto journalist who specialises in Asia's auto industry, says this year's motor show features a range of eco-themed cars.

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here," he says.

"The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

Volkswagen representatives used their presentation at the motor show to again apologise for the company's recent emissions scandal.

Despite none of the affected vehicles being sold in Japan, the company acknowledged the problems have "damaged Japanese trust" in the brand.

They also used the event to present the company's new Tiguan GTE concept car to Asian audiences.

Previously unveiled at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, the concept is an SUV which boasts hybrid drive technology.

Volkswagen's CEO of Passenger Cars, Herbert Diess, says the car starts in full electric mode which has a range of 50 kilometres that will cover most daily drives.

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year," he says.

Honda claims their new Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle is the first production model to consolidate the fuel-cell power train under the vehicle's hood.

That means it allows spacious areas in the rest of the vehicle, something some previous fuel cell vehicles didn't deliver.

The Japanese automaker also showed the latest version of its NSX.

Originally introduced in 1990, the new version is a hybrid sports car which uses both petrol and electric power.

The NSX has been a popular sports car for the brand, many see this as a reflection of Honda's F1 race technology.

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car," says Takahiro Hachigo, the president and CEO of Honda Motor Co.

"This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

Nissan is showing off this 'Teatro for Dayz' concept car which boasts seats and surfaces that can be used to display videos and images. Passengers can enjoy playing games that surround them in the car.

The automaker's president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, says the EV minicar resembles a digital gadget just as much a car.

Nissan also unveiled its other major concept called the 'IDS Concept', sharing its vision for future autonomous driving technology in the process.

This concept vehicle is loaded with laser scanners, a 360-degree camera setup, radar and computer technology that makes autonomous navigation possible.

Nissan plan to offer some autonomous driving features in its vehicles by the end of next year in Japan.

By 2018, the company says vehicles with the technology will be able to conduct lane changes on highways.

By 2020, such vehicles will be able to make their way through intersections on regular urban roads.

The IDS vehicle is also electric and can travel long distances on a single charge, also recharging quickly.

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering!" says Ghosn.

"When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off."

"If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great."

"That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

Lexus, Toyota's luxury car brand, is unveiling this stylish hybrid coupe concept called 'LF-FC'.

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy," says Lexus International President, Tokuo Fukuichi.

The original version was unveiled in 2012, but it's yet to go to market.

There was no confirmation given at this year's motor show whether the car will eventually be available commercially.

More than 70 different concept cars are being presented at this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The event runs until 8 November.

LEAD IN:

Eco-friendly rides and self-driving vehicles are stealing all the headlines at the annual Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

Japanese auto makers Toyota, Honda and Lexus are all debuting new concept vehicles which embrace lower carbon technologies in comparison to traditional petrol engines.

STORY-LINE:

Automobiles are coming in all shapes and sizes at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, on Toyota's stand they're even glowing like something out of a sci-fi movie.

On home soil, Toyota President Akio Toyoda introduced a collection of concept cars accompanied by popular Japanese Major League baseball player, Ichiro Suzuki.

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive," says the baseball player.

"Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow' Toyota will show us."

The Toyota president took the opportunity to declare the company's intention to play a leading role in the auto industry, wowing drivers in the process.

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment," says Toyoda.

"'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

The key concept car Toyota is unveiling this year is this new generation fuel cell vehicle called the 'Toyota FCV Plus'.

The vehicle has the capability to generate electricity by using hydrogen stored outside the vehicle.

That way, the car can function not only as a vehicle but also be used as a sort of portable power plant.

The automaker also unveiled this lightweight sports car concept called the 'Toyota S-FR'. Weighing only 980kg, it's designed for nimble driving.

Hans Greimel, an auto journalist who specialises in Asia's auto industry, says this year's motor show features a range of eco-themed cars.

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here," he says.

"The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

Volkswagen representatives used their presentation at the motor show to again apologise for the company's recent emissions scandal.

Despite none of the affected vehicles being sold in Japan, the company acknowledged the problems have "damaged Japanese trust" in the brand.

They also used the event to present the company's new Tiguan GTE concept car to Asian audiences.

Previously unveiled at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, the concept is an SUV which boasts hybrid drive technology.

Volkswagen's CEO of Passenger Cars, Herbert Diess, says the car starts in full electric mode which has a range of 50 kilometres that will cover most daily drives.

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year," he says.

Honda claims their new Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle is the first production model to consolidate the fuel-cell power train under the vehicle's hood.

That means it allows spacious areas in the rest of the vehicle, something some previous fuel cell vehicles didn't deliver.

The Japanese automaker also showed the latest version of its NSX.

Originally introduced in 1990, the new version is a hybrid sports car which uses both petrol and electric power.

The NSX has been a popular sports car for the brand, many see this as a reflection of Honda's F1 race technology.

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car," says Takahiro Hachigo, the president and CEO of Honda Motor Co.

"This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

Nissan is showing off this 'Teatro for Dayz' concept car which boasts seats and surfaces that can be used to display videos and images. Passengers can enjoy playing games that surround them in the car.

The automaker's president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, says the EV minicar resembles a digital gadget just as much a car.

Nissan also unveiled its other major concept called the 'IDS Concept', sharing its vision for future autonomous driving technology in the process.

This concept vehicle is loaded with laser scanners, a 360-degree camera setup, radar and computer technology that makes autonomous navigation possible.

Nissan plan to offer some autonomous driving features in its vehicles by the end of next year in Japan.

By 2018, the company says vehicles with the technology will be able to conduct lane changes on highways.

By 2020, such vehicles will be able to make their way through intersections on regular urban roads.

The IDS vehicle is also electric and can travel long distances on a single charge, also recharging quickly.

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering!" says Ghosn.

"When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off."

"If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great."

"That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

Lexus, Toyota's luxury car brand, is unveiling this stylish hybrid coupe concept called 'LF-FC'.

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy," says Lexus International President, Tokuo Fukuichi.

The original version was unveiled in 2012, but it's yet to go to market.

There was no confirmation given at this year's motor show whether the car will eventually be available commercially.

More than 70 different concept cars are being presented at this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The event runs until 8 November.

AP TELEVISION

Tokyo, Japan - 28 October 2015

1. Close of wheel of Toyota Motor Corp.'s concept car "FCV plus" on show at Tokyo Motor Show

2. Wide of FCV plus

3. Close of glowing ring on FCV plus

4. Wide of Toyota's world and Japan premiere vehicles on display

5. Close of Toyota's world and Japan premiere vehicle "SFR"

6. Wide of Ichiro Suzuki, American Major League Baseball Player, and Akio Toyoda, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Co., shaking hands onstage

7. Close of Suzuki and Toyoda onstage

8. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Ichiro Suzuki, American Major League Baseball Player:

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive. Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow" Toyota will show us."

9. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese/English) Akio Toyoda, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Co.:

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment. 'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

10. Various of Hans Greimel, Automotive News, Asia Editor, looking at car at Tokyo Motor Show

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

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here. The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

12. Wide of Sven Stein, Representative Director, Volkswagen Group Japan (left) and Herbert Diess, Volkswagen's CEO Passenger Cars brand (right) unveiling Tiguan GTE concept car with solar roof

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Volkswagen's CEO Passenger Cars brand:

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module that can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year."

14. Wide of Diess standing in front of concept car while detailing safety features

UPSOUND: (English) "And it is precisely this type of progress that makes the Tiguan a Volkswagen."

15. Various of Stein and Diess posing for photographs next to Tiguan GTE concept car

16. Various of Honda's concept car "Clarity"

17. Wide of Takahiro Hachigo, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., walking onstage

18. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Takahiro Hachigo, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co.:

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car. This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

19. Various of Honda's NSX

20. Close of Nissan's concept car "Teatro for Dayz"

21. Wide of Nissan Teatro

22. Close of car dashboard

23. Close of dashboard graphics

24. Wide of Nissan Teatro interior with doors wide open showing LED panels changing designs of interior

25. Wide of Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., speaking onstage at presentation

26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co.:

"Above all, they want a car to be a versatile tool for self-expression and connecting with friends just like a smart phone."

27. Wide of Nissan's "IDS" autonomous car

28. Pull out of Nissan's "IDS"

29. SOUNDBITE: (English) Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co.:

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering! When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off. If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great. That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

30. Wide of Lexus's world premiere vehicle LF-FC driving onstage

31. Pan left from photographer to car

32. Pull focus of Lexus logo

33. Wide of Lexus's world premiere vehicle LF-FC

34. Close of LF-FC rear

35. Close of markings, reading (English): 'Fuel Cell' on LF-FC

36. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Tokuo Fukuichi, Lexus International President:

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy."

37. Tilt down to Tokyo Motor Show floor

38. Wide of motor show floor

39. Long shot of visitors walking through motor show

LEAD IN:

Eco-friendly rides and self-driving vehicles are stealing all the headlines at the annual Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

Japanese auto makers Toyota, Honda and Lexus are all debuting new concept vehicles which embrace lower carbon technologies in comparison to traditional petrol engines.

STORY-LINE:

Automobiles are coming in all shapes and sizes at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, on Toyota's stand they're even glowing like something out of a sci-fi movie.

On home soil, Toyota President Akio Toyoda introduced a collection of concept cars accompanied by popular Japanese Major League baseball player, Ichiro Suzuki.

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive," says the baseball player.

"Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow' Toyota will show us."

The Toyota president took the opportunity to declare the company's intention to play a leading role in the auto industry, wowing drivers in the process.

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment," says Toyoda.

"'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

The key concept car Toyota is unveiling this year is this new generation fuel cell vehicle called the 'Toyota FCV Plus'.

The vehicle has the capability to generate electricity by using hydrogen stored outside the vehicle.

That way, the car can function not only as a vehicle but also be used as a sort of portable power plant.

The automaker also unveiled this lightweight sports car concept called the 'Toyota S-FR'. Weighing only 980kg, it's designed for nimble driving.

Hans Greimel, an auto journalist who specialises in Asia's auto industry, says this year's motor show features a range of eco-themed cars.

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here," he says.

"The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

Volkswagen representatives used their presentation at the motor show to again apologise for the company's recent emissions scandal.

Despite none of the affected vehicles being sold in Japan, the company acknowledged the problems have "damaged Japanese trust" in the brand.

They also used the event to present the company's new Tiguan GTE concept car to Asian audiences.

Previously unveiled at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, the concept is an SUV which boasts hybrid drive technology.

Volkswagen's CEO of Passenger Cars, Herbert Diess, says the car starts in full electric mode which has a range of 50 kilometres that will cover most daily drives.

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year," he says.

Honda claims their new Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle is the first production model to consolidate the fuel-cell power train under the vehicle's hood.

That means it allows spacious areas in the rest of the vehicle, something some previous fuel cell vehicles didn't deliver.

The Japanese automaker also showed the latest version of its NSX.

Originally introduced in 1990, the new version is a hybrid sports car which uses both petrol and electric power.

The NSX has been a popular sports car for the brand, many see this as a reflection of Honda's F1 race technology.

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car," says Takahiro Hachigo, the president and CEO of Honda Motor Co.

"This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

Nissan is showing off this 'Teatro for Dayz' concept car which boasts seats and surfaces that can be used to display videos and images. Passengers can enjoy playing games that surround them in the car.

The automaker's president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, says the EV minicar resembles a digital gadget just as much a car.

Nissan also unveiled its other major concept called the 'IDS Concept', sharing its vision for future autonomous driving technology in the process.

This concept vehicle is loaded with laser scanners, a 360-degree camera setup, radar and computer technology that makes autonomous navigation possible.

Nissan plan to offer some autonomous driving features in its vehicles by the end of next year in Japan.

By 2018, the company says vehicles with the technology will be able to conduct lane changes on highways.

By 2020, such vehicles will be able to make their way through intersections on regular urban roads.

The IDS vehicle is also electric and can travel long distances on a single charge, also recharging quickly.

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering!" says Ghosn.

"When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off."

"If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great."

"That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

Lexus, Toyota's luxury car brand, is unveiling this stylish hybrid coupe concept called 'LF-FC'.

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy," says Lexus International President, Tokuo Fukuichi.

The original version was unveiled in 2012, but it's yet to go to market.

There was no confirmation given at this year's motor show whether the car will eventually be available commercially.

More than 70 different concept cars are being presented at this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The event runs until 8 November.

LEAD IN:

Eco-friendly rides and self-driving vehicles are stealing all the headlines at the annual Tokyo Motor Show in Japan.

Japanese auto makers Toyota, Honda and Lexus are all debuting new concept vehicles which embrace lower carbon technologies in comparison to traditional petrol engines.

STORY-LINE:

Automobiles are coming in all shapes and sizes at the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, on Toyota's stand they're even glowing like something out of a sci-fi movie.

On home soil, Toyota President Akio Toyoda introduced a collection of concept cars accompanied by popular Japanese Major League baseball player, Ichiro Suzuki.

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive," says the baseball player.

"Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow' Toyota will show us."

The Toyota president took the opportunity to declare the company's intention to play a leading role in the auto industry, wowing drivers in the process.

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment," says Toyoda.

"'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

The key concept car Toyota is unveiling this year is this new generation fuel cell vehicle called the 'Toyota FCV Plus'.

The vehicle has the capability to generate electricity by using hydrogen stored outside the vehicle.

That way, the car can function not only as a vehicle but also be used as a sort of portable power plant.

The automaker also unveiled this lightweight sports car concept called the 'Toyota S-FR'. Weighing only 980kg, it's designed for nimble driving.

Hans Greimel, an auto journalist who specialises in Asia's auto industry, says this year's motor show features a range of eco-themed cars.

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here," he says.

"The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

Volkswagen representatives used their presentation at the motor show to again apologise for the company's recent emissions scandal.

Despite none of the affected vehicles being sold in Japan, the company acknowledged the problems have "damaged Japanese trust" in the brand.

They also used the event to present the company's new Tiguan GTE concept car to Asian audiences.

Previously unveiled at last month's Frankfurt Motor Show, the concept is an SUV which boasts hybrid drive technology.

Volkswagen's CEO of Passenger Cars, Herbert Diess, says the car starts in full electric mode which has a range of 50 kilometres that will cover most daily drives.

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year," he says.

Honda claims their new Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle is the first production model to consolidate the fuel-cell power train under the vehicle's hood.

That means it allows spacious areas in the rest of the vehicle, something some previous fuel cell vehicles didn't deliver.

The Japanese automaker also showed the latest version of its NSX.

Originally introduced in 1990, the new version is a hybrid sports car which uses both petrol and electric power.

The NSX has been a popular sports car for the brand, many see this as a reflection of Honda's F1 race technology.

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car," says Takahiro Hachigo, the president and CEO of Honda Motor Co.

"This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

Nissan is showing off this 'Teatro for Dayz' concept car which boasts seats and surfaces that can be used to display videos and images. Passengers can enjoy playing games that surround them in the car.

The automaker's president and CEO, Carlos Ghosn, says the EV minicar resembles a digital gadget just as much a car.

Nissan also unveiled its other major concept called the 'IDS Concept', sharing its vision for future autonomous driving technology in the process.

This concept vehicle is loaded with laser scanners, a 360-degree camera setup, radar and computer technology that makes autonomous navigation possible.

Nissan plan to offer some autonomous driving features in its vehicles by the end of next year in Japan.

By 2018, the company says vehicles with the technology will be able to conduct lane changes on highways.

By 2020, such vehicles will be able to make their way through intersections on regular urban roads.

The IDS vehicle is also electric and can travel long distances on a single charge, also recharging quickly.

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering!" says Ghosn.

"When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off."

"If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great."

"That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

Lexus, Toyota's luxury car brand, is unveiling this stylish hybrid coupe concept called 'LF-FC'.

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy," says Lexus International President, Tokuo Fukuichi.

The original version was unveiled in 2012, but it's yet to go to market.

There was no confirmation given at this year's motor show whether the car will eventually be available commercially.

More than 70 different concept cars are being presented at this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The event runs until 8 November.

AP TELEVISION

Tokyo, Japan - 28 October 2015

1. Close of wheel of Toyota Motor Corp.'s concept car "FCV plus" on show at Tokyo Motor Show

2. Wide of FCV plus

3. Close of glowing ring on FCV plus

4. Wide of Toyota's world and Japan premiere vehicles on display

5. Close of Toyota's world and Japan premiere vehicle "SFR"

6. Wide of Ichiro Suzuki, American Major League Baseball Player, and Akio Toyoda, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Co., shaking hands onstage

7. Close of Suzuki and Toyoda onstage

8. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Ichiro Suzuki, American Major League Baseball Player:

"It is truly tough to compete in a global field. We need to meet many new challenges in order to survive. Those are the thoughts when I am standing at the batter's box. I am curious to what sort of 'wow" Toyota will show us."

9. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese/English) Akio Toyoda, President and CEO of Toyota Motor Co.:

"Toyota will produce better and better cars and will make an effort towards realising an enjoyable mobility environment. 'What wows you' is to be brave and meet the challenge. We will always continue to stand in the batter's box to meet the challenges in the future. Let's do it together!"

10. Various of Hans Greimel, Automotive News, Asia Editor, looking at car at Tokyo Motor Show

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

"At this year's Tokyo Motor Show, you're going to see a lot of activities from Japanese makers in particular on their home turf coming out with new kinds of green cars, new environmentally friendly cars - everything from fuel cells, you'll have those from Honda and from Toyota, to electric vehicles which is just about represented by just about everybody here. The other trend you're gonna see is autonomous driving trend, self-driving cars. All of the automakers are gonna have some kind of version of their vision for where that kind of self-driving car technology will go. And that's gonna be a centrepiece of the presentations here."

12. Wide of Sven Stein, Representative Director, Volkswagen Group Japan (left) and Herbert Diess, Volkswagen's CEO Passenger Cars brand (right) unveiling Tiguan GTE concept car with solar roof

13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Herbert Diess, Volkswagen's CEO Passenger Cars brand:

"Depending on the amount of sunshine, it can be driven even further. That is because a solar module that can contribute enough energy for an additional 1,000 kilometres per year."

14. Wide of Diess standing in front of concept car while detailing safety features

UPSOUND: (English) "And it is precisely this type of progress that makes the Tiguan a Volkswagen."

15. Various of Stein and Diess posing for photographs next to Tiguan GTE concept car

16. Various of Honda's concept car "Clarity"

17. Wide of Takahiro Hachigo, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., walking onstage

18. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Takahiro Hachigo, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co.:

"This new NSX boasts the light weight body frame and with newly-developed twin-turbocharged V6 engines installed in the middle part of the car. This is a super sports car equipped with a three-motor hybrid system so that it can meet both demands, the fun of driving and good fuel mileage."

19. Various of Honda's NSX

20. Close of Nissan's concept car "Teatro for Dayz"

21. Wide of Nissan Teatro

22. Close of car dashboard

23. Close of dashboard graphics

24. Wide of Nissan Teatro interior with doors wide open showing LED panels changing designs of interior

25. Wide of Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., speaking onstage at presentation

26. SOUNDBITE: (English) Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co.:

"Above all, they want a car to be a versatile tool for self-expression and connecting with friends just like a smart phone."

27. Wide of Nissan's "IDS" autonomous car

28. Pull out of Nissan's "IDS"

29. SOUNDBITE: (English) Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co.:

"I think it's empowering. It's empowering! When you're in an autonomous car, it's empowering because you switch on, you switch off. If you want to drive, you switch it off. If you don't want to drive, you're in the city, you're in a traffic jam, you receive a phone call, you need to have a conversation with somebody near you, you switch it on. It's empowering. I think that's great. That's why young people are going to love it, senior people are going to love it, families are going to love it, because it's going to give you more freedom to do whatever you want."

30. Wide of Lexus's world premiere vehicle LF-FC driving onstage

31. Pan left from photographer to car

32. Pull focus of Lexus logo

33. Wide of Lexus's world premiere vehicle LF-FC

34. Close of LF-FC rear

35. Close of markings, reading (English): 'Fuel Cell' on LF-FC

36. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Tokuo Fukuichi, Lexus International President:

"We hope that with this design, drivers will experience a ride that is full of emotion and joy."

37. Tilt down to Tokyo Motor Show floor

38. Wide of motor show floor

39. Long shot of visitors walking through motor show

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Susono, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan - 12 November 2012

1. Wide of test car approaching

2. Close up of dashboard showing a warning sign reading (in Japanese) "brakes", AUDIO : beeping sound

3. Various of car approaching fake test car at fast speed then stopping with assisted brakes, thus preventing collision

4. View from inside car showing it stopping

5. Traffic light turning red

6. View from inside car showing vehicle approaching intersection, AUDIO : (Japanese) "It's a red light"

7. Close of dashboard display showing red light

8. Car stopping at red light

9. Mid of project manager for Toyota's Intelligent Transport System Planning Division Hiroyuki Kanemitsu (on screen left)

10. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Hiroyuki Kanemitsu, Project manager, Toyota's Intelligent Transport System Planning Division :

"About half of all accidents at an intersection occur when the driver does not notice other vehicles. I believe this technology has the potential of preventing these accidents."

11. Wide of intersection

12. Close of transmission device (square box with an antenna) above intersection

13. Close of dashboard display showing yellow arrows, indicating oncoming vehicle

14. Wide of car stopping at intersection after warnings of oncoming vehicle

15. View of oncoming vehicle making left turn, another vehicle coming straight through

16. Close of sensor that detects oncoming traffic

17. Mid of man crossing street on zebra crossing, zoom into pedestrian sensor

18. Close of dashboard display showing yellow pedestrian, which warn pedestrian is walking by

19. Wide of car making right turn when road clear

20. Close of car running over test pole, driving forward while stepping on accelerator

21. Close of dashboard showing car running over pole while reversing

22. Mid of dashboard and driver's hand shifting from rear gear to forward gear

23. Side shot of car going forward with automated brakes (driver is stepping on gas pedal but the car is preventing full acceleration)

24. Mid of Project manager of Toyota's Vehicle Engineering Development Division Seigo Kuzumaki (on screen left)

25. Wide of Kuzumaki at testing site

26. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Seigo Kuzumaki, Project manager, Toyota's Vehicle Engineering Development Division :

"In Japan, there are about seven thousand accidents involving wrong pedal operations, and they often occur inside a parking lot. In particular, there are many cases that involve elderly drivers. There are also panicking drivers and other cases, but since the elderly are highly prone, we aim to eliminate these types of accidents."

27. Wide of car slowly reversing and stopping, preventing a rear-end collision with a wall

28. Close of back of car, tilt down to two sensors (round black dots)

29. Close of dashboard showing car backing up

30. Close of car's rear, narrowly missing wall

31. Wide focus shift of Lexus car approaching and braking before hitting test mannequin

32. Close of mannequin head

33. Wide side shot of car braking before hitting mannequin

34. Close of car before hitting mannequin

35. Mid of Toyota's Managing Officer and Chief Safety Technology Officer Moritaka Yoshida

36. Wide of Yoshida surrounded by media

37. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Moritaka Yoshida, Toyota's Managing Officer and Chief Safety Technology Officer :

"In the past, we did not have the technology that would enable cars to detect the possibility of an accident and automatically brake. But that is now possible. What is important now is to ensure its reliability, and produce it at a price that is affordable."

38. Wide of a T-intersection with wall, which make it hard for vehicles to see hidden driveway

39. Close of dashboard display warning that car is approaching from the right

40. View from inside car showing car passing

41. Wide of car making left turn when road clear

LEADIN

Toyota Motor Corporation is testing car safety systems which allow vehicles to communicate with each other and with the roads they are on.

The tests are taking place at a newly completed facility in Japan, which is the size of three baseball stadiums.

STORYLINE:

The cars at the Intelligent Transport System site are kitted out with the latest in safety equipment which Toyota hope will reduce traffic accidents and keep drivers safer.

In these tests cars receive information from sensors and transmitters installed on the streets.

They have been designed to minimise the risk of accidents in situations such as a motorist missing a red light, cars advancing from blind spots and pedestrians crossing the street.

In this test car an electronic warning voice says, "It's a red light," if the driver is about to ignore a red light.

The presence of a pedestrian on the road has triggered a beeping sound and a picture of a person pops up on a screen in front of the driver.

A picture of an arrow pops up to indicate an approaching car at an intersection.

Hiroyuki Kanemitsu manages the planning of Toyota's Intelligent Transport System. He says tackling traffic accidents at junctions is very important in Japan.

"About half of all accidents at an intersection occur when the driver does not notice other vehicles. I believe this technology has the potential of preventing these accidents."

The large test site looks much like the artificial roads at driving schools, except bigger, and is in a corner of the Japanese automaker's technology centre near Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan.

Toyota is also concentrating on preventing collisions, watching out for pedestrians and helping the driving of elderly people.

Project manager of Toyota's Vehicle Engineering Development Seigo Kuzumaki says how people use the accelerator and the brake pedals account for many traffic accidents.

"In Japan, there are about seven thousand accidents involving wrong pedal operations, and they often occur inside a parking lot. In particular, there are many cases that involve elderly drivers. There are also panicking drivers and other cases, but since the elderly are highly prone, we aim to eliminate these types of accidents."

To aid drivers prone to these types of accidents, Toyota has developed sonar sensors that help avoid crashes in parking lots.

One system knows when the driver pushes on the gas pedal by mistake instead of the brakes, and will stop the car automatically.

Another system can automatically enable brakes if a driver shifts from back to forward gears unintentionally.

Toyota says some drivers panic after hitting an object behind them and shift gears in reaction while stepping on the accelerator.

Using a luxury Lexus car as a test vehicle, Toyota shows a new feature which helps drivers brake harder to prevent hitting people or bumping into vehicles in front.

Toyota officials say drivers often fail to push hard on their brakes in such situations because they panic.

Safety technology involving precise sensors remains expensive, sometimes costing as much as a cheaper car.

Many automobile manufacturers are working on pre-crash safety technology to add value to their cars, especially for developed markets such as the U.S., Europe and Japan.

Toyota's Japanese rival Nissan Motor Co. recently unveiled cars which were smart enough to stop on their own, park themselves and swerve away from pedestrians who suddenly jump into a vehicle's path.

Despite all the fanfare of how new technology can help prevent accidents, Toyota's chief of safety technology, Moritaka Yoshida says people must be able to trust the technology.

"In the past, we did not have the technology that would enable cars to detect the possibility of an accident and automatically brake. But that is now possible. What is important now is to ensure its reliability, and produce it at a price that is affordable."

In this test at a T-junction, where it is difficult for drivers to see vehicles behind an obstruction, an alarm sounds inside the car warning it of an oncoming car.

When the coast is clear the car moves away.

Toyota officials say the smart-car technology it is developing will be tested on some Japanese roads starting in 2014.

SHOTLIST:

AP Television

Tokyo - 18 November, 2010

1. Close up of woman test driving Toyota's electric vehicle, iQ

2. Various of test drive

3. Wide of news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation :

"We think we should develop electric vehicles focusing on short commuter use so as to expand the market. With that position, we are now aiming to put electric vehicles on the market by 2012 in Japan, the US and Europe."

AP FILE

Tokyo - 21 July, 2007

5. Various of Toyota plug-in hybrid Prius being charged

AP Television -

Tokyo - 18 November, 2010

6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Takeshi Uchiyamada, Executive Vice President, Toyota Motor Corporation :

"The PHV (plug-in hybrid) is a hybrid car which does not use much gasoline and also is an electric vehicle whose battery does not run out. PHV is the amalgamation and evolution of both technologies and we think it will be the mainstream of electric vehicles."

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

"Well it's a good question whether Toyota can maintain the lead in the environmental vehicle race. They had an early start with Prius which was well accepted and established Toyota's name as the leader, but yet you see companies something like Nissan coming out with the Leaf and trying to take the - to leapfrog ahead of Toyota. So we will see where it goes. A lot will depend on the development on these batteries which is the key power source for these cars."

8. Various of Toyota electric vehicle, iQ

9. Various of the charge inlet

10. Close up of the battery

11. Wide of iQ

LEAD IN :

The next generation of Toyota's electric cars are to go on sale in the US, Japan and Europe by 2012.

The new version will be a compact hybrid vehicle best suited for short haul trips.

STORY-LINE:

This little car is what Toyota's excited about.

The company says its next generation of eco-friendly vehicles will be gasoline-electric hybrid, which will remain the standard for green cars so drivers won't have to worry about running out of electricity on the road.

Given a test drive it sped around a short test-course without any problem, making whirring motor noises instead of the usual roar of an engine.

Toyota's executive vice president, Takeshi Uchiyamada says the new eco car, based on Toyota's iQ, has been designed is to focus on short haul use.

"We think we should develop electric vehicles focusing on short commuter use so as to expand the market. With that position, we are now aiming to put electric vehicles on the market by 2012 in Japan, the US and Europe."

The eco car is going on sale in the US, Japan and Europe from 2012 , with the company targeting sales of 50,000 vehicles a year at 3 million yen ($36,000) each without subsidies, as the automaker strengthens its green lineup to keep pace with growing competition.

Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, is banking on hybrids, which switch between gasoline and electric engines, after the success of its top-selling Prius hybrid. The company says they are planning to introduce 11 new hybrid models by the end of 2012, including revamps of existing models.

Uchiyamada says the plug-in hybrid gives drivers the best of both worlds.

"The PHV (plug-in hybrid) is a hybrid car which does not use much gasoline and also is an electric vehicle whose battery does not run out. PHV is the amalgamation and evolution of both technologies and we think it will be the mainstream of electric vehicles."

Besides developing an electric car in-house, Toyota is working on an electric sport-utility vehicle with U.S. luxury electric car maker Tesla. A concept model which is being shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show is planned for sale in the U.S. in 2012, with a range of 100 miles on a single charge.

Other car manufacturers are playing catch up however with Japanese rivals Nissan and Mitsubishi dashing ahead in the race to bring new hybrid to market, as Asia Editor of Automotive News, Hans Greimel explains.

"Well it's a good question whether Toyota can maintain the lead in the environmental vehicle race. They had an early start with Prius which was well accepted and established Toyota's name as the leader, but yet you see companies something like Nissan coming out with the Leaf and trying to take the - to leapfrog ahead of Toyota. So we will see where it goes. A lot will depend on the development on these batteries which is the key power source for these cars."

Mitsubishi's eco car, the iMiEV, is already on sale.

Analysts say electric vehicles and other futuristic vehicles will still only make up a tiny fraction of the auto market for years.

Recharging stations will be needed for electric vehicles and hydrogen fuelling stations will be needed if fuel cells are ever to become practical.

Toyota sorely needs a boost to its image after a series of massive recalls totalling more than 11 million vehicles globally over the last year, mostly in the U.S., for faulty gas pedals, floor mats that can trap accelerators, defective braking and stalling engines.

The maker of the Camry sedan and Lexus luxury model also faces lawsuits in the U.S. over accidents suspected of being related to those defects.

Its image, once equated with near impeccable quality, has been badly tarnished, especially after widespread criticism it was slow and reluctant to come forward with the recalls.