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Japanese automakers welcome North American trade deal, fear what's next

TOKYO — Toyota, Nissan and Mazda welcomed on Tuesday the revised North America trade deal that left Japanese automakers unscathed, but they may face a bumpy ride when Washington and Tokyo hold new talks on over $40 billion of annual U.S. auto imports from Japan. The United States and Canada reached an agreement on Sunday to update the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement after Washington had forged a separate trade deal with Mexico in August. The updated deal effectively maintains the auto industry's current footprint in North America, and spares Canada and Mexico from the prospect of U.S. national security tariffs on their vehicles. Mazda, which ships cars to the United States from Mexico and Japan, called the deal a "big step forward". Nissan, which makes the cars it sells in the United States locally as well as in Mexico, Japan and other countries, said it was "encouraged" by the agreement. Toyota, Japan's biggest automaker, said it was "pleased" that a basic deal was reached. Other automakers were not immediately available for comment. While the deal has removed the risk that the disintegration of the pact would have posed to automakers, bigger risks loom large for Japanese firms as a chunk of the roughly 7 million cars they sold in the U.S. last year were shipped from Japan, and a trade deal between Washington and Tokyo has yet to be agreed. The United States and Japan last week agreed to begin fresh trade talks, with U.S. President Donald Trump seeking to address Japan's $69 billion trade surplus, of which nearly two-thirds comes from auto exports. Washington is also investigating the possibility of slapping 25 percent tariffs on auto imports on national security grounds, although it has agreed with Japan to put any new tariffs on hold during the talks. Analysts say the United States may take a tougher stance on auto imports from Japan than from its neighbors. "If Japan requests an exemption from the 25 percent tariffs under consideration, Washington could propose a more strict cap on imports than it agreed to with Mexico and Canada," said Koji Endo, senior analyst at SBI Securities. "That would be a risk." This could be a big blow to Japan, as the United States is a key source of revenue for Japanese automakers including Toyota, Nissan and Honda. The U.S. market accounts for a quarter or more of their annual global vehicle sales, and of their total U.S.

Mitsubishi Super Height K-Wagon previews the kei car of the 2020s

The door-less, turbine-electric Mi-Tech concept was the uncontested star of the Mitsubishi display at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, but the Japanese firm also unveiled a close-to-production design study named Super Height K-Wagon that accurately previews its next family of kei cars. It transcends the historic city-only vocation by letting owners comfortably drive further. The Super Height K-Wagon's proportions are about what you'd expect from a kei car, but its front end falls in line with Mitsubishi's current design language by adopting the X-shaped motif seen on other models, like the Eclipse Cross. Even a humble kei car can't escape crossoverization; designers echoed Mitsubishi's SUVs by adding black plastic trim over the wheel arches and the rocker panels. Mitsubishi took advantage of the concept's relatively long wheelbase to carve out a spacious, family-friendly interior. The driver sits higher than in a normal city car, like the Mirage, and the rear passengers take their seats after opening a van-like sliding door. Clever use of space has always been a trademark of kei cars, and the Super Height K-Wagon is no exception. Technical specifications remain vague. Mitsubishi outlined a high-performance engine that shifts through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). To qualify for kei car status, its engine can't displace more than 660 cubic centimeters, and it can't make more than 63 horsepower. And, proving once again that small doesn't always mean basic, the Super Height K-Wagon is packed with electronic driving aids like a collision-mitigation system, and lane-keeping assist. Mitsubishi boss Takao Koto called the Super Height K-Wagon concept the second wave of next-generation kei cars, and confirmed the concept will enter production by the end of the current fiscal year, which ends on March 31, 2020. Don't expect to see it in the United States, though. Featured Gallery Mitsubishi Super Height K-Wagon concept Tokyo Motor Show Mitsubishi Minivan/Van Concept Cars 2019 tokyo motor show

Carlos Ghosn vows to 'restore my honor' in first remarks since arrest

TOKYO — Nissan Motor's jailed ex-chairman, Carlos Ghosn, vowed to restore his good name in court after a month in detention, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said on Friday. "Things as they stand are absolutely unacceptable," Ghosn was quoted as saying via his lawyer. "I want to have my position heard and restore my honor in court." It was Ghosn's first comment since his arrest on Nov 19 for allegedly understating his income by about half over a five-year period from 2010. He was later charged with the same alleged crime covering the past three years. A call to the office of his lawyer, Motonari Otsuru, went unanswered outside business hours early on Friday. The lawyer has previously declined to return calls for comment on the Ghosn case. A Tokyo court on Thursday unexpectedly rejected prosecutors' request to extend Ghosn's detention, which Japanese media said means he could go free on bail as early as Friday. Ghosn wants to hold a news conference after he is released, NHK quoted his lawyer as saying. The executive, who formed a carmaking alliance among Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors Corp and France's Renault SA, said he is not a flight risk and wants to be able to travel abroad, the report said. The Ghosn case has put Japan's criminal justice system under international scrutiny and sparked criticism for some of its practices, including keeping suspects in detention for long periods and prohibiting defense lawyers from being present during interrogations, which can last eight hours a day. Japan has also come under fire for its 99.9 percent conviction rate. The Tokyo court unexpectedly ruled not to extend Ghosn's detention. It said it had also decided against extending detention for Greg Kelly, a former Nissan executive who was arrested along with Ghosn on Nov. 19. It later overruled an appeal by prosecutors against the decision, clearing the way for the possible release of the two men as early as Friday. The court did not disclose reasons for its decision, and NHK said it was "extremely rare" for it to reject the prosecutors' request to extend detention. If Ghosn and Kelly are granted bail, conditions may require them to apply for permission to travel overseas. They could also be barred from contacting Nissan officials. Both executives had not been able to make any public statements since their arrest, although local media have reported that they have denied wrongdoing. Ghosn was indicted on Dec.