The nonbinding memorandum of understanding was announced Thursday, and the companies say they plan to share vehicle underpinnings as well as engines and transmissions.
Ford, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Honda, and Toyota said they would shut down all factories in the region, citing concerns for employees who work in close quarters building automobiles. Nissan will close U.S. factories. Hyundai shut down its Alabama plant after a worker tested positive for the virus.
While conversations between broadcasters and car makers are just starting, ATSC 3.0 proponents say that given the three-to-five-year build cycle of a typical new model it’s crucial to get 3.0 receiver chips into car makers’ design plans by next spring so they’re ready to roll in 2024, by which time next-gen stations will be broadcasting across the U.S.
The review of creative and media is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013 and does not include multicultural assignments, which are handled by Muse Communications and Orci. For 26 years, the automaker has worked with RPA on creative and U.S. media buying and planning, and the agency will participate in the review process.
Honda Motor Co. President Takanobu Ito told reporters Friday that the automaker has set itself the goal of selling more than 6 million vehicles around the world by March 2017.
Exclusives
Honda will sharply reduce North American production in November because floods in Thailand have disrupted parts supplies. Honda will cut its North American output by 50%, starting Wednesday.
Japan’s tsunami crisis bottomed out in July for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. and American Honda Motor Co. as the pair lost 6.9 points of market share to their Detroit and Korean rivals compared with a year ago. In a flat market, Toyota and Honda got hammered in July. But they are starting to restock U.S. dealerships, and August should be marginally better for both.
Toyota is restarting production of the Prius and two other hybrid models in Japan as Honda extends its shutdown. The Prius is made at the Tsutsumi factory in western Japan, while the two hybrid Lexus models are produced in the southern island of Kyushu. Toyota has nine other factories in Japan. Toyota has only said shutdowns will last at least until Saturday. It will have lost production of about 140,000 vehicles by then.
Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and Subaru suspended production at plants in Japan today and were assessing damage after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast, triggering a tsunami and shaking buildings as far away as Tokyo. The shutdown could affect exports to the United State.
