Japan’s trade surplus expanded 37% in 2007 from the previous year to $102 billion for the first growth in three years as strong auto% steel exports to emerging economies outweighed crude oil price increases Japan’s exports grew 11.6 percent to $830 billion, marking a record high for the sixth straight year.

According to a document prepared by the Independent Motor Vehicle Dealers Association (IMVDA).

New Zealand Government is planning to restrict the importation of used vehicles beginning from 2008 to reduce exhaust emission from old vehicles.

As for gasoline-powered vehicles, the Government plans to introduce, from 2008, the same emission standards which were previously introduced to Japan in 2000.

For diesel-powered vehicles, it will introduce the 2002 Japanese emission standards to New Zealand in 2009.

New Zealand Cabinet already agreed that the Ministry of Transport consults on the above-mentioned scheme.

Japan is considering adding Japanese language requirement for foreign nationals seeking entry visas for long-term residency & when renewing their visas, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said recently in Tokyo.

Komura cited reasons such as the need for foreigners to be able to speak Japanese to fit into the Japanese society. “For foreign people living in Japan to be able to speak Japanese is not only important for improving their own quality of life, but also necessary for the Japanese society as a whole,” Komura told a news conference. “It would be a very good thing if this helps build momentum for learning Japanese language in the respective home countries of foreign people living in Japan,” he added. As of the end of 2006, there were 2.09 million foreigners registered for permanent & not-permanent residency in Japan, including those for work & study.

Mr. Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group & Tata Motors, recently unveiled the Tata ‘NANO’, the People’s Car at auto show that India & the world have been looking forward to. A development, which signifies a first for the global automobile industry, the People’s Car brings the comfort and safety of a car within the reach of thousands of families. The People’s Car will be launched in India later in 2008.

Toyota overtook Ford to become the No.2 automaker by sales in American market in 2007.

The Japanese car maker used new products to break Ford’s 75-year lock on the position. Toyota sold 48,226 more cars and trucks than ford, according to new sales figures. Toyota’s sales were up 3 percent for the year, helped by new products like the Toyota

Tundra pickup, which saw sales jump 57 percent.

Ford’s sales fell 12 percent ending a year that is expected to be the worst for the auto industry since 1998.

Ford’s corporate historian said it is the first time since 1931 that Ford wasn’t second behind General Motors.