Suzuki Motor Corporation has established a distributor for Suzuki cars in Brazil. The Brazilian company, SVB Automotores Do Brasil Ltda., will import Suzuki cars from Japan and begin marketing them in October 2008.

Economic stability in Brazil has supported growth in the car market there since 2004; new car registration in Brazil exceeded 2.46 million units in 2007, and continued steady growth is expected.

Brazil is the only BRIC* nation where Suzuki has not had a presence thus far. Through its new partnership with SVB Automotores Do Brasil Ltda., Suzuki looks forward to expanding its business in the years ahead.

Source: Suzuki Motor Corporation

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Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that it has received an order for a top pressure recovery turbine (TRT) generating system with a capacity of 22,020 kW from the Brazilian steel company Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN). The system is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2009.

The TRT generating system is driven by the exhaust gas pressure generated from the steelworks’ blast furnace and converted into electricity using a turbine. In addition to energy savings, noise is reduced when gas passes through the turbine. Because of the system’s environmentally friendly features, TRT generating systems have been adopted for all large blast furnaces in Japan.

Kawasaki’s TRT generating system is unique in that it doesn’t rely on a conventional governing valve to control the blast furnace’s top pressure, instead employing the turbine’s variable stator blades. This method does not control the gas flow rate from the blast furnace by adjusting the valves, but adopts a method that continuously adjusts the angle of the blades. This enables efficient, low-noise generation with minimal energy loss, even when the gas flow rate and pressure from the blast furnace change.

In Brazil, demand for power has recently risen considerably, leading steel plants to introduce their own power sources for electricity supplies. The order for a TRT generating system from CSN reflects this shift in Brazil’s socioeconomic status.

Kawasaki has already sold 41 TRT generating systems around the world, demonstrating their high reputation. In Brazil, the systems have been delivered to CST (capacity: 20,000 kW), Gerdau Açominas (11,340 kW) and Usiminas (18,800 kW).

Source: Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that it has received an order for a top pressure recovery turbine (TRT) generating system with a capacity of 22,020 kW from the Brazilian steel company Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN). The system is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2009.

The TRT generating system is driven by the exhaust gas pressure generated from the steelworks’ blast furnace and converted into electricity using a turbine. In addition to energy savings, noise is reduced when gas passes through the turbine. Because of the system’s environmentally friendly features, TRT generating systems have been adopted for all large blast furnaces in Japan.

Kawasaki’s TRT generating system is unique in that it doesn’t rely on a conventional governing valve to control the blast furnace’s top pressure, instead employing the turbine’s variable stator blades. This method does not control the gas flow rate from the blast furnace by adjusting the valves, but adopts a method that continuously adjusts the angle of the blades. This enables efficient, low-noise generation with minimal energy loss, even when the gas flow rate and pressure from the blast furnace change.

In Brazil, demand for power has recently risen considerably, leading steel plants to introduce their own power sources for electricity supplies. The order for a TRT generating system from CSN reflects this shift in Brazil’s socioeconomic status.

Kawasaki has already sold 41 TRT generating systems around the world, demonstrating their high reputation. In Brazil, the systems have been delivered to CST (capacity: 20,000 kW), Gerdau Açominas (11,340 kW) and Usiminas (18,800 kW).

Source: Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.

Toyota said it will start selling new models of the Corolla compact car in Brazil. Toyota do Brazil Ltd., a wholly owned unit of the Japanese carmaker, will put on the Brazilian market the sedan and station wagon models of the Corolla, which were both introduced in Japan in October 2006.

Automakers around the globe are competing intensely to develop low-cost cars for emerging markets and Japanese manufacturers are no exception. But despite the attraction of rapidly expanding auto demand in nations such as China and India there are also some Japanese automakers that remain cautious about taking part in the competition, because of the need for drastic cuts in production costs, among other reasons. The pioneer among such low-cost cars is Logan by Renault in 2004.

The group succeeded in keeping the Logan’s price below one million yen by having it share parts with other Renault cars.

The model’s accumulated sales reached 460,000 units as of the end of June 2007. Earlier in January this year, Tata Motors Ltd. of India surprised the world by releasing the no-frills Nano mini car priced at Rs.100,000- about 280,000 yen. The 623cc model has no air conditioner, radio or air-bag system.

Toyota is currently developing what it calls an entry family car with an expected price tag way below one million yen. “The development of new car has come to a good level, but there is still room for improvement,” says Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe, suggesting that the mode’s development is now in the final stage. Nissan has announced a plan to launch a low-cost car in India in 2010 via an alliance with Bajaj, a local motorcycle maker.

Volkswagen & Hyundai are also seen planning inexpensive model releases in India. Suzuki is taking a wait-&-see stance in India.

At the same time as low-cost cars are drawing attentions, emission standards are getting tougher around the world and demand for safe cars with fuel-efficient engines or safety features such as air bags.

As if to differentiate itself from automakers engaged in the price-cutting war, Honda recently announced a plan to launch a gasoline-electric hybrid model of its Civic sedan in India this year, aiming to expand its presence in the market by selling its eco-conscious image.

Even if automakers successfully develop inexpensive cars, these will offer only narrow profit margins and how much contribution they can make to the manufacturers’ earnings is unclear.