The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (Chairman: Satoshi Aoki) is pleased to announce the show theme and poster design for the 41st Tokyo Motor Show 2009. The show will be held at Makuhari Messe, Chiba city for a total of 17 days from Friday, October 23 through Sunday, November 8, 2009 (open to public from Saturday, October 24).

The show theme will be “Fun Driving for Us, Eco Driving for Earth.” The theme simply expresses the “Fun & Eco” concept — the desire to take pleasure in driving automobiles while also caring for the environment, presenting both “Fun” and “Eco” in a positive light. It underscores the idea that both can be achieved and enjoyed.The poster design incorporates the two ideas of “Fun” and “Eco” in the “balloon car” symbol. The balloon cars were formed to evoke passenger cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles, embodying the idea of a “comprehensive show.” The cute, round shapes represent fun while their colorful bodies derive from a rainbow, symbolizing harmony with nature. As the poster visualizes these balloon cars flying over the Tokyo sky, it expresses the future cars progressing and evolving with both such “Fun” and “Eco”.

Source: Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Inc.

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Round 5 of SUPER GT, the “SUGO GT 300km RACE” was decided on Sunday, July 27th at Sportsland SUGO (lap: 3.707km) in Miyagi prefecture. After starting 13th, the “WOODONE ADVAN Clarion GT-R” (#24 –Joao Paolo de Oliveira, Seiji Ara) took 8th and was awarded three championship points for their efforts.

In the four events since the opening round of the season, the NISSAN GT-R has taken three wins. As a result, a Special Performance Adjustment was levied on the cars. The undulating up-down nature of the SUGO track meant a hard fight was expected.

Among the GT-R runners, the highest-placed machine was the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (#22 – Michael Krumm, Masataka Yanagida) starting in eighth place after qualifying. On the opening lap of the race, the car was pushed from behind by another competitor, and sent off track. As a result, the car fell to the back of the pack. Despite running a good pace, it was difficult to recover much ground. Starting driver Krumm handed the wheel over to Yanagida on lap 44. Yanagida also had difficulty making up places as he battled all the way to the end. He managed to get up to 13th after higher-placed cars went out, and successfully made it to the flag in that position.

Running an identically massive weight, the “XANAVI NISMO GT-R” (#23 – Satoshi Motoyama, Benoit Treluyer) saw ace driver Motoyama start from 10th place. In the early stages, he settled into 14th place, before handing the car over to Treluyer on lap 42. With only the smallest of gaps between them, he followed his teammate in the #22 machine home in 14th place.

After taking the win at the last race in Sepang, the “WOODONE ADVAN Clarion GT-R” (#24 – Joao Paolo de Oliveira, Seiji Ara) had an additional 50kgs handicap weight added, making it a difficult weekend for the team. However, right from the start of the race, Oliveira gradually moved up the order. Taking charge on lap 42, Ara waited for the chance to advance further than his starting position of 10th. After successfully battling with another car while running ninth on lap 63, he advanced to eighth. It was a position he would keep to the flag.

Running in the middle of the GT-R entries in a comparatively heavy car, the “CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R”(#12 – Tsugio Matsuda, Sebastien Philippe) was without driver Matsuda due to ill health. The team thus had the abundantly experienced GT500 driver Dominik Schwager (Germany) as a stand-in. Sebastien Philippe took the race start after qualifying the car 14th. Driving a rhythmical race, Philippe steadily moved up the order. In the middle stages, contact was made with another car. The accident resulted in a 10-second stop-and-go penalty. In the second half of the race, Schwager took the wheel, starting the final lap in 11th. However, at the final corner, his car stopped abruptly, causing him to lose one position. He finished the event in 12th place.

The #3 “YellowHat YMS TOMICA GT-R (Ronnie Quintarelli, Naoki Yokomizo) qualified 15th. On the final lap they swapped positions with the #12 car, ending the race in 11th position.

KONDO Racing Team Manager Masahiko Kondo’s comment: “We did everything we could here today. I think it’s a great result to take home points despite the heavy weight on the car. Looking towards the next event, we were able to undertake good race management because it had been our objective to get into the top ten and take as many points as possible. These three points are sure to act as a body blow for us in the second half of the season. Looking to the races in the second half of the season, I will steadfastly unite the team. I wonder where we can take another victory.”

Due to the ill health of NISMO Director Yoshitaka Iijima, Mr Kunihiko Kakimoto acted as Team Manager on this occasion.

NISMO Team Director Kunihiko Kakimoto’s comment: “Many thanks to everybody for your support. We were hoping for a position closer to the front, but the heavy weight on the cars prevented us from fulfilling this aim. Since the opening round of the season, the GT-R has taken three wins from four races. This time we faced the most severe conditions yet. We are looking forward to slightly better conditions at the next round, the 1,000kms at Suzuka. We appreciate your continued support.”

Source: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.

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China’s auto import grew faster in the first seven months of this year, as world auto giants turned to the Chinese market after the American economic slump and high oil prices drove sales down in American and European markets, according to recent media reports from Beijing. Domestic demand for large-engine vehicles also strengthened as many people bought in advance of a consumption tax hike that is due to take effective on September 1. Between January and July, China imported 247,000 motor vehicles, a growth of some 48 percent on the same period of last year.

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Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced its consolidated financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended June 30, 2008.

Consolidated net sales and other operating revenue amounted to JPY 2,867.2 billion, a decrease of 2.2% due to factors including the negative currency transaction effect.

Consolidated operating income, which amounted to JPY 221.3 billion, remained at approximately the same level compared to the same quarter a year ago, due to a decrease in incentives for automobile business in North America, increased profit mostly from increased automobile unit sales, and cost reduction efforts, despite the negative impact of exchange rates, the impact of increased raw material costs, and increases in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses.

Honda set an all-time record for the first quarter for income before income taxes and net income as well as an all-time record for any quarter for equity in income of affiliates.

At the board of directors meeting held today, Honda resolved to pay JPY 22 per share for the fiscal first quarter dividend with the record date of June 30, 2008. The total dividend to be paid for the entire fiscal year is expected to be JPY 88 per share.

Source: Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

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Mazda Motor Corporation announced that a Job One ceremony was held at AutoAlliance International Inc. in Flat Rock, Michigan to celebrate the first United States production of the North American all-new Mazda6.

The all-new Mazda6 inherits and further evolves the sporty styling and superb driving performance of the first generation Mazda6. The North American model features a larger body and greater engine displacement to meet the particular demands of the North American market with handling and comfort being optimized for North American road conditions. Two spirited engines will be available: the newly developed 2.5-liter direct injection I-4 that drives the European and Japanese versions of the all-new Mazda6 and –for extra performance– the 3.7-liter V6 that powers the Mazda CX-9, the 2008 North American Truck of the Year.

Speaking at the ceremony, AutoAlliance International’s president and CEO, Gary A. Roe said, “The North American all-new Mazda6 has a special significance for us because it was developed exclusively to meet the needs of the North American market and is being built right here at AAI. Our dedication to build quality cars will ensure the Mazda6 succeeds amid a very challenging sales environment.”

James J. O’Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations added, “The midsize sedan segment is crowded with many of the best vehicles from Asia, Europe, and the US. Even under these circumstances, we are confident the North American all-new Mazda6 will be highly competitive.”

Mazda’s president and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki, remarked, “It is an honor to be here at AutoAlliance International to celebrate the North American all-new Mazda6 production kickoff. AutoAlliance International symbolizes the strong cooperative relationship that has benefited both Mazda and Ford for many years. Going forward, we will continue to provide our customers with the highest quality products in order to further strengthen Mazda’s presence in North America. This will bring us closer to achieving the targets of our mid-term Mazda Advancement Plan.”

Also attending the ceremony was Garry L. Sommerville, chairman of the UAW Local 3000, and approximately 900 AutoAlliance International employees.

Mazda began vehicle production in North America at Mazda Motor Manufacturing (USA) Corporation in 1987. The MMUC plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, became a joint venture between the Mazda Motor Corporation and the Ford Motor Company in 1992, when the name was changed to AutoAlliance International, Inc. Previous Mazda models produced at the facility include the Mazda MX-6 and Mazda 626. The first generation Mazda6 commenced production at AAI in 2002.

Source: Mazda Motor Corporation

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