Japan's top three carmakers produced a record number of vehicles globally last month, highlighting the resilience of the Japanese car industry in the face of a higher yen, soaring oil prices and slowing economic activity in key markets. Toyota said January production for the group, which includes Daihatsu, the mini-vehicle maker, and Hino, the truckmaker, rose 8.2 per cent to a record 801,873. Japan's largest vehicle maker is experiencing strong demand in emerging markets, such as China, India and Russia, which has more than offset slight weaknesses in the US and Europe.

Reducing automobile emissions to zero is perfectly possible, claims a recent Toyota advertisement. The ad describes how the auto giant s hybrid technology cuts fuel consumption by almost 40 per cent, compared with conventional petrol engines...

Toyota Motor Corp will buy hybrid-car batteries from Sanyo Electric Co, a source familiar with the matter said, as the automaker struggles to meet growing demand for the fuel-sipping vehicles due to a shortage of battery supply.

Spiralling raw material prices are forcing car makers to contemplate a price hike as soon as June or July.