Murata and Mitsubishi Agree on a Cooperative Framework for Working Toward a Carbon-Neutral Society

TOKYO, Jun 24, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Corporation and Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. have agreed on a cooperative framework for working toward a carbon-neutral society.Virtual PPA Overview This framework is being developed with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality at the global level, while introducing renewable energy at the company level to achieve a sustainable society. On the road to decarbonization, it is important to combine initiatives achievable in the short term (such as constructing more renewable energy generation facilities) with more long-term goals (such as developing technologies that utilize hydrogen), to maintain a continuous, stable supply of renewable energy from diverse energy sources. To this end, companies with strengths in different areas must work together to pave the way for the next generation of energy: promoting efforts toward practical adoption, starting with real-world testing. Cooperation details (four areas)- Procurement of electricity from renewable energy sources by Murata- Production and use of hydrogen at Murata's plants in Japan- Working together with local communities via the creation of autonomous, decentralized communities- Regulating power through the use of storage batteries Through this cooperation, Murata Manufacturing Group has agreed to procure 70,000 kW of power derived from renewable energy sources from Mitsubishi by 2025, another step toward our goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2050, and the specific details are currently being finalized. We will continue our discussions with Mitsubishi, with the aim of expanding the amount procured to 300 million kWh in the future. This cooperation is being concluded on the premise that the power is procured under the virtual power purchase agreement (virtual PPA) scheme that has just started in Japan. We will also continue to update our medium- and long-term initiatives based on the shared areas of concern in this cooperation. Norio Nakajima, president of Murata Manufacturing, had this to say about the cooperative framework:"Every company in the Murata Manufacturing Group is doing its part to promote the introduction of renewable energy, but many of the things that will be critical in the future are difficult to do alone, from a technical standpoint. Mitsubishi has a track record of bringing renewable energy to a large number of locations both in Japan and worldwide as part of its drive to tackle social issues, and it owns many businesses aimed at putting different types of energy into practical use. By combining the know-how of Murata and Mitsubishi, we hope to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, and development of society in general." Mitsubishi President Katsuya Nakanishi commented:"I am very pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement on a comprehensive framework of cooperation with Murata, which is already working on low-carbon/decarbonization initiatives to meet the RE100 targets. In May 2022, we announced our "Midterm Corporate Strategy 2024 - Creating MC Shared Value," which promotes energy transformation (EX), digital transformation (DX), and a growth strategy of future creation (regional development/new industry generation) through the unified promotion of EX and DX. Through this comprehensive cooperation, Mitsubishi and Murata will work jointly to create value at scale and contribute to low-carbon/decarbonization and regional development in Japan." Cooperation detailsProcurement of electricity from renewable energy sourcesAs part of our quest to convert all electricity consumed in the Murata Manufacturing Group's business activities into renewable energy to meet the goals of the RE100 global environmental initiative, we will procure renewable energy from a new solar power generation facility operated by Mitsubishi.Both companies have agreed that the scale of the solar power generation facility and amount procured will be approximately 70,000 kW by 2025, and are currently in the process of finalizing the terms of the procurement agreement. Together, we also aim to expand the amount of renewable energy procured to around 300 million kWh in the future.In this agreement, the power derived from renewable energy sources supplied by Mitsubishi to Murata will be done through a method called virtual PPA, in which non-FIT non-fossil fuel energy certificates are traded directly between renewable energy providers and consumers. Furthermore, the power generation facilities involved in this cooperation will all be newly built, creating renewable energy provision with additionality that will contribute to domestic carbon neutrality targets. Trial production and use of hydrogenWe will begin trialing the production and use of hydrogen at Murata's plants in Japan, using an electrolyzer. By utilizing carbon-free electricity in the electrolysis process and using the resulting hydrogen, we hope to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that come from manufacturing.In the future, we also hope to supply hydrogen to the local communities where Murata's domestic plants are located, with the aim of promoting decarbonization in the region. Regional development with local communitiesWe aim to realize Murata's pledge to "solve social issues in all our corporate activities and contribute to society through our business activities" and Mitsubishi's "regional development through the unified promotion of EX and DX."In regions where Murata's domestic plants are located, we contribute to solving regional social and industrial issues together with local authorities along the theme of creating attractive, autonomous, and decentralized towns. Regulating power through the use of storage batteriesIn anticipation of entering the power supply and demand regulation market through our cooperation with Mitsubishi, which has a proven track record in this sector, we will jointly trial regulating the power supply through the use of storage batteries installed at Murata plants.By combining the proprietary power control technology used at Murata's production plants with Mitsubishi's knowledge of the electric power industry, we will strive to help resolve grid instability that may occur as the use of renewable energy increases.Inquiry RecipientMitsubishi CorporationTelephone:+81-3-3210-2171 Facsimile:+81-3-5252-7705 Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Eisai Signs the Public-Private Partnership “Kigali Declaration” for Eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases

TOKYO, Jun 24, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that Eisai has signed the Kigali Declaration announced at the Kigali Summit on Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) on June 23, 2022 in Kigali, the capital of the Republic of Rwanda, and expressed Eisai's continued support for the elimination of NTDs towards the achievement of a road map for NTDs 2021-2030 launched by the World Health Organization (WHO). Based on the human health care (hhc) philosophy, Eisai has positioned the elimination of NTDs as an important area of focus and aims to achieve social good in the form of reducing health disparities (please click here to watch the message video).Also, Eisai's CEO Haruo Naito has been appointed as one of the '100 Global Leaders Committed to Eliminating NTDs'. NTDs include 20 diseases that the WHO identifies as tropical diseases which human race must overcome. In 2012, the pharmaceutical companies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the WHO, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, and governments of NTD-endemic countries pledged their support to the London Declaration, a coordinated effort to eliminate NTDs and the largest international public-private partnership in the field of global health to date. Since the London Declaration, the pharma industry has contributed to the elimination of NTDs via supply of medicines which resulted in donation of 14 billion high-quality treatments. Also, tremendous achievements have been made through NTDs elimination activities of public-private partnership. Forty-six countries have eliminated at least one NTD and 600 million people no longer require interventions against NTDs. Despite such progress, more than 1.7 billion people remain threatened by NTDs and continuous coordinated effort through strong partnership is needed. The Kigali Declaration, the successor of the London Declaration, is commitment of stakeholders for the elimination of NTDs. Through people-centered approach by multi-sectoral partnerships, the Kigali Declaration aims to meet the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3 target on NTDs and achieve the targets of the WHO's road map for NTDs 2021-2030 by eradicating two NTDs, eliminating at least one NTD in 100 countries and decreasing the number of people requiring interventions for NTDs by 90%. Thereby, decrease in suffering, poverty, disability and prejudice of people due to NTDs as well as improvement of participation in society is expected. Eisai has been manufacturing and supplying diethylcarbamazine (DEC) tablets, a lymphatic filariasis (LF) treatment, free of charge to the WHO for the elimination of LF. To date, 2.05 billion DEC tablets manufactured at Eisai's Vizag Plant in India have been supplied to 29 countries (as of May 2022). Although LF has been eliminated in 17 countries and the number of infected people has declined by 74% since 2000, 860 million people worldwide are still exposed to the risk of infection. Eisai is committed to providing DEC tablets for free to endemic countries that need DEC until LF is eliminated in these countries. Furthermore, Eisai is working on comprehensive approaches such as support for the mass drug administrations (MDAs), disease awareness and improvements in sanitation. Furthermore, Eisai is proactively engaged in development of new treatments for NTDs through partnerships with global research organizations. Utilizing the funding from the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) and others, Eisai is conducting joint development of new treatments such as a new treatment for LF in collaboration with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Liverpool as well as treatments for mycetoma and leishmaniasis in collaboration with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). Based on hhc philosophy, Eisai further strengthens collaborations with global partners and aims to realize a world without burden of NTDs. Media Inquiries:Public Relations Department,Eisai Co., Ltd.+81-(0)3-3817-5120 Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Honda Joins Sustainable Aviation Fuel Review Panel

TOKYO, Jun 24, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that, this month, it has joined the international technical review panel comprised of FAA and aviation OEMs (FAA / OEM Review Panel defined in ASTM D4054), which evaluates the safety of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and supports the standardization of SAF.SAF is expected to play an important role in achieving carbon neutrality in aviation as it is produced from non-fossil or sustainable raw materials such as plants and waste, and reduces CO2 emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. In the meantime, to enable the end use of SAF, it must be evaluated for safety on aircraft and engines by the members of the FAA / OEM Review Panel, and its specifications must be established as American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Together with other review panel members, Honda will contribute to the safety and widespread use of SAF by evaluating the safety of newly-developed SAF through the review of various test data and by supporting standardization.Working toward the realization of a sustainable society, Honda has set a company-wide goal of achieving carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities Honda is involved in by 2050. In the area of aviation, in addition to developing new environmentally responsible power units based on gas turbine and electrification technologies, Honda is conducting research on carbon neutral fuels that will serve as an alternative to fossil fuels, as well as carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies*. With the participation on this international SAF review panel, Honda will strive to realize carbon neutrality by further advancing and achieving practical application of its technologies not only through its independent initiatives, but also while collaborating with various companies and organizations around the world. About FAA / OEM Review PanelFAA / OEM Review Panel is an international organization comprised of the FAA, aircraft manufacturers and aeroengine manufacturers, which is evaluating the impact of SAF on aircraft and engines. Current participants are Boeing, Airbus, Dassault, Embraer, De Havilland, Bell Helicopter, Bombardier, Sikorsky, General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Honeywell Safran and Honda. About Honda Aviation Business Honda began research into aircraft and jet engines in 1986. As for the aircraft, Honda developed HondaJet, a light business jet aircraft with a unique engine layout structure (Over-The-Wing Engine Mount). As for aircraft engines, Honda developed the HF120 engine jointly with General Electric Company (GE) based on the HF118 engine Honda developed independently. With its innovative aircraft and jet engine technologies, HondaJet achieves best-in class fuel efficiency and environmental performance which contributes to the reduction of the environmental impact of its flights. Currently, the HondaJet global fleet comprises over 200 aircraft with more than 100,000 flight hours recorded.* Technologies that enable recycle / reuse of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere as energy resource. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announces team setup for Nurburgring Endurance Series

TOKYO, Jun 23, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) will compete in Rounds 4 and 6 of the N?rburgring Endurance Series (NLS(1)). Although TGR has decided not to participate in this year?s 24 Hours of N?rburgring Endurance Race(2), it will refine people and cars, and continue its pursuit of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars through domestic testing and participation in the NLS with a view toward next year and beyond.N?rburgring is a demanding course that is 25km in length, has a maximum altitude difference of 300m, and features 172 corners. The N?rburgring 24 Hours Race, which TGR competed in from 2007 to 2021, with the aim of "refining people, refining cars," represents the roots of TGR. The mechanics and engineers, who are Toyota employees, aim to test the cars to their limits and learn how to make them better than ever by gaining experience under even harsher conditions than testing and evaluations conducted on regular test courses. This valuable experience is subsequently fed back into the development of all kinds of vehicles.NLS Round 4 (to be held on June 25) is a 4-hour endurance race and will feature drivers Tatsuya Kataoka, Hiroaki Ishiura, Masahiro Sasaki, and Takamitsu Matsui. NLS Round 6 (to be held on September 10-11) is a 6-hour endurance race held over two days for a total of 12 hours of racing(3).TGR will compete with the LEXUS LC and the new GR86. The LC will be refined through the investment of a significant amount of advanced technology that will be used in future production vehicles, centered around body rigidity, aerodynamic development, and suspension technology. The new GR86 is competing for the first time at N?rburgring. It is equipped with a 2.4-liter engine that is more powerful than the previous model and will take on the challenges of the world?s most demanding course.(1) Nurburgring Langstrecken Series(2) Event dates (May 28-29, 2022) conflict with major races in Japan, which would hinder the team preparation and setup(3) Drivers for NLS Round 6 will be decided at a later date(4) A member of Toyota Motor Corporation Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

MHI Invests in Electric Hydrogen, a U.S. Startup, to Accelerate Efforts to Produce Clean Hydrogen at Scale

TOKYO, Jun 23, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) announced today that it has invested in Electric Hydrogen (EH2), a clean hydrogen startup headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, to support its efforts in developing cost-competitive, fossil-free hydrogen. Through this investment, MHI aims to strengthen and diversify its hydrogen value chain, advance its energy transition business, and act on its commitment toward global carbon neutrality goals. The investment has been executed through Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. (MHIA), which joins a consortium of investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Equinor, Amazon, Honeywell, and Rio Tinto."No single company can provide needed technology to achieve global decarbonization, which is why we recognize the importance of investing in and enabling companies like Electric Hydrogen to develop new solutions," said Takajiro Ishikawa, President and CEO of MHIA.EH2's patented approach to electrolysis - the process of producing hydrogen from electricity and water - is specially designed for the high-volume, low-cost production required to support massive industrial operations, which could significantly improve the levelized cost of hydrogen.This investment will support the scale-up of EH2's high electrolyzer technology and its use in the manufacturing, and deployment of pilot projects to produce fossil-free hydrogen (also known as "green hydrogen") at large scale for industrial and infrastructure applications.Industries not amenable to electrification, such as steel, fertilizer and intercontinental energy transport, account for more than a third of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions, according to EH2. Hydrogen, when produced in places with abundant and clean electricity, is a promising pathway for decarbonizing these industries.MHI is working to build a hydrogen value chain through its proprietary technologies, plus investment and collaboration with companies such as EH2.About Electric HydrogenElectric Hydrogen (EH2) is a deep decarbonization company pioneering new technology for low-cost, high-efficiency, fossil-free hydrogen systems. Focusing on industrial applications of hydrogen in steel, ammonia and freight transport, EH2's goal is to help eliminate more than 30% of global GHG emissions from hard-to-electrify industries. Their leadership team has revolutionized other clean energy sectors at Tesla and First Solar and they are backed by world-class climate tech investors like Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Prelude Ventures, Capricorn Investment Group, Energy Impact Partners, Fifth Wall Climate Tech and S2G Ventures. The company also benefits from partnerships with strategic investors that are leaders in their target sectors, including Amazon Decarbonization Fund, Cosan, Equinor, Honeywell, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Rio Tinto.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

MHI Thermal Systems’ Plug-in Hybrid Transport Refrigeration Units Receive Technology Award from Japan Society of Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers

TOKYO, Jun 23, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems, Ltd. (MHI Thermal Systems), a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, received the 49th "Technology Award" from the Japan Society of Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (hereafter, JSRAE) for their "Refrigeration unit TE20/30 series used for plug-in hybrid transport" that can be equipped onto delivery vehicles suitable for use in home delivery. MHI Thermal Systems received high praise for its approach and technology in working on several issues at once that transport refrigeration units must resolve, these issues being the need to achieve "transport quality that keeps food safe", "eco-friendly and low-noise to ensure a comfortable lifestyle", "economic efficiency to support customer corporate activities", and "driver load reduction in response to work style reforms".JSRAE technology plaque awardThe plug-in hybrid system on this product, which has been well received in Japan and abroad mainly for use in home delivery, is a hybrid system incorporating a commercial power supply (plug-in power supply) and a refrigerator dedicated generator. The system can automatically switch between plug-in charging, run charging and battery operation to match the vehicle conditions, for example when the vehicle is running or stopped. Furthermore, 3 power modes (power saving, high efficiency and high power) are selected automatically depending on the refrigerator's battery level and cargo room temperature to maintain the correct temperature inside the refrigerator so that the delivery driver does not have to be aware of the temperature. These modes also achieve a reduction in the amount of energy consumed by 14 to 54% in comparison with conventional refrigerators. These factors can contribute to a reduction in CO2 and energy saving, in addition to a reduction in workload on the delivery driver.The JSRAE technology award is given for outstanding technical achievements that significantly contribute towards the development of refrigeration and air conditioning technology. The award applies to new technology in the fields of refrigeration and air conditioning, as well as food refrigeration, cryobiology and medicine. This is the 2nd award presented to this product. Previously, in 2019 it received the "Agency for Natural Resources and Energy Commissioner's Award (Transportation Field)" in the Product and Business Model category of the Energy Conservation Grand Prize sponsored by the Energy Conservation Center with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.This award has encouraged MHI Thermal Systems to continue its work on developing technology and products that help further reduce CO2 and save energy. In addition to the refrigerated transport business , MHI Thermal Systems will concentrate its effort on achieving optimal thermal solutions that respond to the diverse needs of customers using its integrated technological strengths derived from synergies realized from the breadth of its business areas, which include the thermal engineering business to improve energy efficiency in various plants, the large-scale refrigeration business for large space air conditioning, the air conditioning business to create diverse comfortable spaces, and the automotive air conditioning business. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

MHI and Chugoku Electric Conclude Basic Agreement toward 100% Renewable Energy Usage at Mihara Machinery Works

TOKYO, Jun 23, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and The Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc. (Chugoku Electric), which is based in Hiroshima, today concluded a basic agreement under which all electricity consumed at MHI's Mihara Machinery Works (Mihara, Hiroshima) will be replaced with green power, etc. derived from renewable energy sources by the end of fiscal 2023 (March 31, 2024).Under the agreement, Chugoku Electric will newly install 10-megawatt (MW) class photovoltaic (PV) facilities at the Mihara Machinery Works' Wadaoki Plant, and will supply green power, etc. to MHI under a combination of onsite and offsite power purchase agreements (PPAs)(1). The environmental value created by the PV facilities at the Wadaoki Plant will be applied to achieve full decarbonization throughout the Mihara Machinery Works, including its Itozaki and Kohama plants. When completed, the scheme - which is the first of its kind undertaken by either of the two project partners - will result in a near 10,000-ton annual reduction in the Mihara Machinery Works' carbon emissions.Under the project scheme, the power generated by the PV facilities at the Wadaoki Plant will initially be used in-house at the plant, through the PPA onsite as specified. Any excess power will be supplied through the power grid to the Itozaki and Kohama plants, under an offsite PPA.Additionally, any surplus power unused by the Mihara Machinery Works' three plants will be supplied to other MHI plants. The environmental value of the power supplied to other plants will be allocated to power supplied by Chugoku Electric(2) to meet the Mihara Machinery Works' nighttime demand, etc.(3) As a result, all power used at the Mihara Machinery Works will be replaced by green power, etc. making use of the environmental value derived from the Wadaoki Plant.Going forward, MHI and Chugoku Electric will each make use of the expertise acquired under this project, and they will also pursue further collaboration in developing and proposing new solutions for achieving carbon neutrality.(1) Under an onsite PPA, the PPA contractee has PV facilities installed on its premises, factory roof, etc. and the power produced is used within the site. Under an offsite PPA, the power generated on the PPA contractee's site is distributed to facilities at the company's other site or sites and supplied by retail power providers.(2) This power is generated by facilities other than the PV facilities at the Wadaoki Plant (renewable energy power plants owned by Chugoku Electric, etc.).(3) Nighttime and corresponding demand refers to power demand during time frames when PV facilities produce no power. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Toyota Announces July Production Plan

Toyota City, Japan, Jun 22, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - We at Toyota would like to again apologize for the repeated adjustments to our production plans due to the parts shortage resulting from the spread of COVID-19, and for causing considerable inconvenience to our customers who have been waiting for the delivery of vehicles, suppliers, and other parties concerned.The global production volume for July is expected to be approximately 800,000 units (approx. 250,000 units in Japan and 550,000 units overseas). We have revised the global production plan by about 50,000 units from the number provided to our suppliers at the beginning of the year.As for July, we previously announced that some plants in Japan will suspend operations ("Adjustments to domestic production in June and July"). However, due to the continued impact of a COVID-19 outbreak at one of our suppliers, we have decided to extend the period of operations suspension at some of our plants and production lines.The global production volume for July through September is estimated to average about 850,000 units per month. The production forecast for the fiscal year remains unchanged (approx. 9.7 million).As it remains difficult to look ahead due to the shortage of semiconductors and the spread of COVID-19, there is a possibility that the production plan may be lower. However, we will examine the parts supply closely to minimize sudden decreases in production, and continue to make every effort possible to deliver as many vehicles to our customers at the earliest date.For the revised domestic operations suspension schedule for July, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/37487297.html. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Eisai Publishes Potential Economic Value of Investigational Lecanemab in Peer-Reviewed Neurology and Therapy Journal

TOKYO, Jun 22, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Eisai Co., Ltd. today announced publication of results from an early phase evaluation that aimed to estimate potential economic value of its investigational anti-amyloid-beta (Abeta) protofibril antibody lecanemab in people living with early Alzheimer's disease (AD) using a validated disease simulation model, AD Archimedes Condition Event (AD ACE) model1,2,3 from the healthcare payer and societal perspectives in the United States, in the peer-reviewed journal Neurology and Therapy. This is the second publication of lecanemab's potential value. It follows the evaluation of the long-term health outcomes using simulation modeling of lecanemab published in Neurology and Therapy in April 2022.4 While the healthcare payer perspective focuses on direct care costs (e.g., outpatient and inpatient services, medications, intervention costs, nursing home and home healthcare services), the societal perspective further considers societal costs (e.g., productivity loss and informal care costs). As reported in the previous publication, it was suggested that compared to standard of care* (SoC), individuals treated with lecanemab in addition to SoC (lecanemab+SoC) may potentially experience slower disease progression to mild, moderate and severe AD from baseline by 2.51, 3.13 and 2.34 years on average, respectively. The preliminary results of this model-based simulation could possibly translate into additional quality-adjusted life years (QALY**) and reduction in the formal and informal care costs***. Additionally, the AD ACE model framework used in this study allowed assessment of the potential value of lecanemab in different scenarios and sensitivity analyses, including the impact of patient subsets, alternative treatment stopping rules**** and potential dosing regimens as well as major sources of uncertainty. Eisai is committed to conducting and sharing these types of clinical and socioeconomic analyses to establish trust as we work to potentially bring lecanemab to people living with early AD who have confirmed presence of amyloid pathology in the brain. To that end, Eisai would like to provide a common foundation for stakeholders' discourse regarding the potential clinical and socioeconomic value of lecanemab from the societal perspective, not to assign a price for lecanemab at this time. This model-based simulation was conducted using the results of a Phase 2b clinical trial (Study 201) evaluating the efficacy and safety of lecanemab for early AD with confirmed amyloid pathology as well as published literature. It also estimated the potential economic value of lecanemab+SoC over a broad range of willingness-to-pay thresholds from $50,000 to $200,000 per QALY gained as recommended by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER)*****. Lecanemab+SoC was predicted to result in a gain of 0.61 QALYs and a decrease in total non-treatment costs of $8,707 per person from the healthcare payer perspective (Societal perspective: 0.64 QALYs gain and $11,214 decrease) compared to the SoC for patients with early AD who have confirmed presence of amyloid pathology. The potential annual value-based price (VBP) of lecanemab was estimated at $9,249 to $35,605 (Societal perspective: $10,400 to $38,053) based on this early economic assessment. ICER's value framework5 indicates that value cannot be wholly derived from measures of clinical and cost-effectiveness, so contextual considerations and an examination of other benefits and disadvantages are also added into the framework when assessing long-term value. This may lead to using the societal perspective and higher end of the broad range of willingness-to-pay threshold in estimating the justifiable price of lecanemab, given the large societal burden of AD relative to direct healthcare costs. Many people living with AD received informal care from their family and friends totaling more than 16 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $271.6 billion in the U.S. in 2021.6 These predicted and simulated findings suggest that early treatment with lecanemab may reduce these costs and economic burdens, and provide insights for healthcare decision-makers regarding the potential clinical and socioeconomic value of lecanemab. The Phase 3 lecanemab Clarity AD data will soon be available to inform the model inputs and refine the findings. In the event that lecanemab receives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval, Eisai may determine a VBP using this framework along with other considerations, such as affordability, health system sustainability, etc. "Eisai's goal is to create therapies, such as our investigational anti-amyloid beta protofibril antibody lecanemab, that may help impact the anxieties of people living with Alzheimer's disease and their families. For Alzheimer's disease, it is important to evaluate the holistic value of therapies taking into account not only medical costs but also the immense societal costs," said Ivan Cheung, Senior Vice President, President Neurology Business Group and Global Alzheimer's Disease Officer, Eisai Co., Ltd., Chairman and CEO, Eisai Inc. "As part of Eisai's commitment to our human health care mission, trust and transparency, we will continue to publish data and information about lecanemab and look forward to sharing the results of the lecanemab confirmatory Phase 3 Clarity AD clinical trial this fall." Eisai completed lecanemab's rolling submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) for the treatment of early AD to the FDA under the accelerated approval pathway in May 2022. The Clarity AD Phase 3 clinical study for lecanemab in early AD is ongoing and completed enrollment in March 2021 with 1,795 patients. The readout of the primary endpoint data of Clarity AD will occur in the fall of 2022. The FDA has agreed that the results of Clarity AD, when completed, can serve as the confirmatory study to verify the clinical benefit of lecanemab. Dependent upon the results of the Clarity AD clinical trial, Eisai may submit for full approval of lecanemab to the FDA during Eisai's fiscal year 2022, which ends in March2023. In Japan, in March 2022, Eisai initiated submission of application data to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) under the prior assessment consultation system with the goal of obtaining early approval for lecanemab, and aims to file for the manufacturing and marketing approval based on the results of Clarity AD during Eisai's fiscal year 2022. Also, in Europe, based on the results of the Clarity AD study, Eisai plans to submit a new drug application in fiscal year 2022. This release discusses investigational uses of an agent in development and is not intended to convey conclusions about efficacy or safety. There is no guarantee that such an investigational agent will successfully complete clinical development or gain health authority approval. * Standard of Care (SoC) for AD currently consists of lifestyle modifications and pharmacologic treatment of symptoms.** The quality-adjusted life year (QALY) is a measure of the value of health outcomes. Since health is a function of length of life (i.e., quantity) and quality of life (QOL), the QALY was developed as an attempt to combine the value of these attributes into a single index number. One QALY equates to one year in perfect health. QALY scores range from 1 (full health) to 0 (dead). For example, a new intervention may increase length of life by 3 years and improve quality of life by 70% (QALY score of 2.1) compared to an existing intervention that may increase length of life by 3 years and only improve QOL by 50% (QALY score of 1.5), the incremental QALY for this new intervention will be 0.6 QALYs.*** Formal and informal care costs do not include lecanemab drug cost.**** Alternative treatment stopping rules were explored in scenario analyses where treatment with lecanemab was stopped after a fixed duration of 1.5, 3 and 5 years.***** ICER is a non-profit research organization in the U.S. that evaluates the evidence on the clinical and economic value of prescription drugs, medical tests, devices and health system delivery innovations. 1 Kansal AR, Tafazzoli A, Ishak KJ, Krotneva S. Alzheimer's disease Archimedes condition-event simulator: Development and validation. Alzheimers Dement (NY). 2018;4:76-88. Published 2018 Feb 16. doi:10.1016/j.trci.2018.01.001.2) Tafazzoli and Kansal. Disease simulation in drug development, External validation confirms benefit in decision making. The Evidence Forum. 2018. bit.ly/3NgEeDD(3) Tafazzoli A, Weng J, Sutton K, et al. Validating simulated cognition trajectories based on ADNI against 436 trajectories from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) dataset. 11th edition of Clinical Trials on 437 Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD); Barcelona, Spain: 2018.(4) Tahami Monfared AA, Tafazzoli A, Ye W, Chavan A, Zhang Q. Long-Term Health Outcomes of Lecanemab in Patients with Early Alzheimer's Disease Using Simulation Modeling. Neurol Ther 11, 863-880 (2022). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40120-022-00350-y.(5) ICER Value Framework 2020-2023. 2022. bit.ly/39HjYO3(6) Alzheimer's Association. 2022 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures 2022 Available from: bit.ly/3bkCR9VMedia Inquiries:Public Relations Department,Eisai Co., Ltd.+81-(0)3-3817-5120 Eisai Inc. USLibby HolmanLibby_Holman@Eisai.com201-753-1945 Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

GAC Honda Begins Construction of New EV Production Plant

BEIJING, CHINA, Jun 22, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in China, announced that GAC Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. (GAC Honda), a Honda automobile production and sales joint venture in China, began construction of its new EV plant, taking a forward step in establishing a suitable EV production system and capability in preparation for an increase in the number of EV models in its product lineup.Overhead view of rendering of GAC Honda's new EV plantGAC Honda's dedicated EV production plant will be newly constructed on a lot with the size of 400,000m2 within the Guangzhou Economic and Technological Development District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China. The plant is targeted to begin operation in 2024 with an annual production capacity of 120,000 units.With an initial investment plan of 3.49 billion R.M.B., the plant will proactively pursue sustainable initiatives including the use of solar power and other renewable energy sources. Moreover, by adopting a number of advanced production technologies, GAC Honda will strive to make it a highly efficient, smart and low-carbon EV plant.In China, Honda is planning to introduce 10 e:N Series EV models by 2027. GAC Honda?s new EV plant will become a symbolic production operation that supports a broad EV lineup that GAC Honda will roll out in the coming years. It also will serve as a core operation of Honda EV production in China, together with the new EV plant which will be built by Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. (Dongfeng Honda) and is planned to begin operation in 2024.In 2024, when both the GAC Honda and Dongfeng Honda new EV plants become operational, Honda will have a total base annual automobile production capacity of 1.73 million units.Honda will continue to accelerate its electrification efforts toward the realization of carbon neutrality by 2050 and offer attractive products that go beyond customer expectations. For more information, visit bit.ly/3Qx7lpn. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

MHIET’s Indian Subsidiary MVDE Achieves Cumulative Production of 200,000 Industrial-Use, Small Diesel Engines

TOKYO, Jun 22, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger, Ltd. (MHIET), a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, announces that its subsidiary in India, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-VST Diesel Engines Pvt. Ltd. (MVDE)*, has achieved a cumulative production of 200,000 units of industrial-use, small diesel engines. This achievement was made possible by the acknowledgement of the engine's durability in harsh environments and the manufacturing quality originated in Japan, as well as the high demand for engines to be used in industrial applications including agricultural equipment and generators.MVDE is a subsidiary of MHIET, established in 2007 as a joint venture with V.S.T. Tillers Tractors Ltd. (VTTL), a local agricultural machinery manufacturer. MHIET holds a 96.8% stake in the company, and VTTL 3.2%. MVDE's diesel engines are trusted by OEMs of agricultural machines, generators and other equipment around the world and reached a cumulative production total of 100,000 units in 2018. OEMs in India have been focusing not only on the domestic market, but also Europe and other markets, resulting in a steady increase in the sales of MVDE engines.Taking advantage of the momentum from reaching this milestone, MHIET and MVDE strengthen the sales, procurement, manufacturing and aftersales service further to respond to the growing demand in the Indian market and other markets by utilizing its global network.*For more information on MVDE, visit https://www.mhi.com/group/mvde/ Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Hexagon and Fujitsu Announce Strategic Partnership to Solve Societal Challenges for ‘Trusted Society’

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. and Tokyo, Jun 22, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Hexagon's Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division and Fujitsu Limited will partner to accelerate the development and promotion of use cases to solve societal challenges and contribute to the realization of the 'Trusted Society' -- a sustainable, resilient place where people can live together in peace and prosperity. The partnership was announced today at HxGN LIVE Global 2022, Hexagon's digital technology conference.Hexagon and Fujitsu will work together to provide joint use cases leveraging digital twin technologies and solutions from both companies, including IoT sensors, data processing, AI analysis and advanced data visualization in the cloud and high-performance computing infrastructure. The partners will deploy these technologies to develop joint solutions that deliver richer information and deeper insights to customers in government, the public sector, transportation and utilities to help reduce emissions, increase safety, optimize operations and more."Our goal at Fujitsu is to realize our vision for a 'Trusted Society'," comments Yoshinami Takahashi, EVP and vice head of Global Solution Business Group, Fujitsu. "Partnering with Hexagon will allow us to extend our reach and provide even greater value to cities and regions around the world.""Cities are playing a leading role in solving global challenges, from addressing climate change to eliminating traffic fatalities," says Steven Cost, president, Hexagon's Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division. "Our partnership with Fujitsu can help cities put data to work to solve these pressing problems and meet sustainability and safety goals."The new global partnership builds from the companies' work to solve urban sustainability challenges in Europe, including efforts to better manage and understand the impacts of shared mobility services in Germany, including a project with the City of Munich.Hexagon is a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. We are putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, quality and safety across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, public sector and mobility applications. Our technologies are shaping production and people-related ecosystems to become increasingly connected and autonomous -- ensuring a scalable, sustainable future.Hexagon's Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division improves the resilience and sustainability of the world's critical services and infrastructure. Our solutions turn complex data about people, places and assets into meaningful information and capabilities for better, faster decision-making in public safety, utilities, defense, transportation and government.Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 22,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 4.3bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com and follow us @HexagonAB.About FujitsuFujitsu's purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers in over 100 countries, our 124,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: Computing, Networks, AI, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$32 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: www.fujitsu.com.Hexagon Emily Arnold Global Communications Manager Tel: +1 256.730.2582 E-mail:Emily.arnold@hexagon.comFujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Division Inquiries (bit.ly/3rrQ4mB) Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Mazda 787B to Drive Demo Laps in Le Mans Classic 2022

HIROSHIMA, Japan, Jun 21, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mazda Motor Corporation announced that the Mazda 787B, symbol of Mazda's "never stop challenging" spirit, will do demonstration laps(1) at Le Mans Classic 2022 to be held from June 30 to July 3.1991 Le Mans winner, Mazda 787B, at Le Mans drivers' parade on June 10, 2011Equipped with a four-rotor rotary engine, the Mazda 787B became the first Japanese automobile to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in 1991. For the first time in almost a decade, spectators will be able to witness the thrilling and distinctive sound of the Mazda 787B's rotary engine at Le Mans Classic 2022. The last two opportunities to see the legendary vehicle being at the 90th anniversary of the 24 hours of Le Mans in 2013 and the 20th anniversary of Mazda's victory at Le Mans in 2011.The Mazda 787B was due to run at Le Mans Classic last year to mark the 30th anniversary of its victory, unfortunately the event itself was postponed to this year due to Covid-19.Thanks to support from model car company, Spark, 29-time competitor in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Yojiro Terada dubbed as "Mr. Le Mans" in Japan, will drive the Mazda 787B during demonstration laps on July 1 and 2 when Group C racing will be held.Le Mans Classic is a very popular event in which numerous famed racing cars that have previously competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans(2) gather and make an appearance every two years on the Circuit de la Sarthe. In Group C, entry vehicles are divided by historical period and compete in 60-minute races. This year's entries will include cars that have cemented their names in history such as the Toyota Tom's 85C, the Porche 962, the Jaguar XJR and the Peugeot 905.For Mazda 787B, visit the special website commemorating the 30th anniversary of Mazda's victory at Le Mans, www.mazda.com/en/innovation/lemans30th/. (1) In case of rain or other poor weather conditions, the demonstration laps by Mazda 787B may be cancelled.(2) 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans marked 99 years since the event first ran in 1923. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Fujitsu and Salesforce Japan start collaboration on healthcare solutions for the Japan market

TOKYO, Jun 21, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Fujitsu and Salesforce Japan Co., Ltd. (hereinafter Salesforce Japan) today announced the start of a collaboration to create new digital solutions for the healthcare sector in the Japan market. The two companies will promote this initiative by leveraging Fujitsu's expertise in the trusted handling of medical and pharmaceutical data and computing technologies and Salesforce Japan's track record and expertise as an industry leader in customer relationship management (CRM). As the first step of their collaboration, Fujitsu and Salesforce Japan will work together to develop digital solutions for insurance companies in Japan. The two companies will cooperate with insurance companies and medical institutions to support the development of insurance products that optimize the risk assessment of diseases by individuals based on data such as the possibility of diseases predicted by AI from medical and health data. The two parties aim for commercialization of the new solutions in Japan in fiscal 2023.Through the new solutions, Fujitsu and Salesforce Japan will support the establishment of new product models for insurance companies and promote the broad use of personalized insurance products. The two companies thereby aim to contribute to the resolution of societal and economic issues including health concerns related to a variety of diseases associated with the extending life expectancy of individuals, the increase in treatment costs due to advanced medical care, and the cost of living in the retirement period.BackgroundAs society confronts the challenges presented by declining birth rates, aging populations, new threats to public health, and changing lifestyles, insurance companies are working to provide personalized insurance products that are more closely tailored to each applicant?s unique needs. To contribute to this effort, Fujitsu and Salesforce Japan, who started comprehensive cooperation on a global level in 2010, decided to further strengthen their relationship and expand their business through collaborative efforts to create solutions in the healthcare field. Through the development of AI solutions that can predict individual disease risks, the two companies aim to support the development of optimized insurance products based on medical and health data provided by insurers and healthcare providers and to optimize business processes across the entire insurance business.In this way, Fujitsu and Salesforce Japan will support insurance companies in offering prospective policyholders optimal insurance products and creating a new insurance model based on personal data that also covers prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in a detailed and comprehensive manner.Roles and responsibilities within the collaborationFujitsu:- Development of a system in cooperation with medical institutions that enables the trusted use of medical data from electronic medical records based on the consent of patients- Development of personalized healthcare services based on Fujitsu's own analysis to detect signs of a specific disease by utilizing "Fujitsu Computing as a Service (CaaS)," a service portfolio that makes it easy for users to take advantage of advanced computing and software technologies such as AISalesforce Japan:- Comprehensive integration and analysis of a wide range of patient medical data to visualize the patient journey(1)- Application of products to realize personalized medical experiences and patient-centered digital transformation (DX) (including ?Health Cloud,? a healthcare industry-specific CRM system that serves as the axis of patient-centric DX; ?MuleSoft,? to integrate external data and ?Tableau,? to analyze patient data)Future plansFujitsu and Salesforce Japan will jointly develop digital solutions for insurance companies in Japan and aim for commercialization in fiscal 2023. Moving forward, the two companies will continue to pursue various initiatives to contribute to further innovations in the healthcare sector. Fujitsu will work with insurance companies, medical institutions, pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers to build a digital health ecosystem in which a wide range of data can be effectively linked and used with the latest digital technology in order to realize personalized healthcare throughout the entire life cycle. This initiative represents part of Fujitsu's ongoing efforts to contribute to the creation of a healthy society as part of its vision for "Healthy Living" under its global business brand Fujitsu Uvance to create a sustainable world.Salesforce aims to realize "Connected Healthcare," which provides innovative and optimal healthcare to patients on an ongoing basis by connecting various healthcare stakeholders with patients through its ?Health Cloud."Yoshinami Takahashi, (Corporate Executive Officer, EVP) Fujitsu Limited, comments:"We are excited to start collaboration with Salesforce Japan in the healthcare field. By leveraging our respective strengths, I am confident that we can develop and provide innovative solutions to a wide range of challenges and tasks in this field. The vision of "Healthy Living," one of the key focus areas under our global business brand Fujitsu Uvance is to create a world that enriches the life experience of everyone and continues to expand their potential. In order to realize this vision, it is essential to solve cross-cutting issues among consumers, insurance companies, medical institutions, pharmaceutical companies and other players. Fujitsu will create a digital health ecosystem to effectively link the data held by these players at the initiative of individuals to create new value and ultimately solve various issues. Through this collaboration, we ultimately aim to deliver new solutions under our portfolio of "Healthy Living" offerings, contributing not only to the transformation of healthcare in Japan, but throughout the whole world."Hidenori Tamura (Managing Executive Officer), Salesforce Japan Co., Ltd., Enterprise Finance & Region DX Sales Headquarters comments:"There is a gap between the healthcare services demanded by consumers and the services actually provided. A Salesforce research shows that more than 80% of consumers are interested in personalized health services, while only about 30% of companies actually provide them. To meet the needs of consumers, it is essential for various players in the industry to connect and collaborate with patients to create solutions. We have positioned our ?Health Cloud? as a solution where patients and healthcare players can connect and where healthcare players can create new solutions and values together. Through our solutions centering on the ?Health Cloud,? we will promote patient-centered DX in Japan. As a major step towards achieving this goal, we will work with Fujitsu to provide innovative healthcare services and experiences that are optimal for each patient."Amit Khanna SVP & GM, Health Care and LifeSciences, Salesforce, Inc. comments:"Care is not just about one moment in time - care is longitudinal. In order to transition to more preventative, holistic care, the healthcare industry needs to embrace more connected, collaborative solutions and start integrating data from across different healthcare platforms to get a full picture of the patient. With this integrated end-to-end view, the healthcare industry can start working towards delivering personalized, tailored care to every patient."(1) Patient journey :The process of a patient's behavior and feelings during the period of treatment, such as seeking medical attention or taking medication, after the patient has developed a disease.About FujitsuFujitsu?s purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers in over 100 countries, our 124,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: Computing, Networks, AI, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$32 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: www.fujitsu.com.About SalesforceSalesforce is a global leader in customer relationship management (CRM), helping companies of all sizes and verticals digitally transform and reach their customers at 360 degrees. Learn more about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) at www.salesforce.com. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

MHI to Establish New “Digital Innovation Headquarters” to Transform Customer Business Models through “Smart Connections”

TOKYO, Jun 20, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Effective July 1st, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) will add a new "Digital Innovation Headquarters" to its corporate organization. Until now, the Company has sought to strengthen its product competitiveness through ICT solutions encompassing communication network technologies, information processing technologies, etc., with a focus on developing new solutions and expanding current solutions. Going forward, in order to respond to the increasingly diverse needs of the future, under the new headquarters MHI will concentrate on expanding its digital strategies, digital platforms and digital transformation (DX) promotion functions.Fig.1 Digital innovations incorporating MHI’s core competencesFig.2 DX supporting joint solution creation with the customerFig.3 Functions of the Digital Innovation HeadquartersMHI Group's Unique Digital InnovationsTo carry out the Company's shift in orientation, in addition to pursuing intelligence and autonomous operation in the machine systems provided by its group companies, MHI will pursue "smart connections" by coordinating the machine systems vital to society and adding intelligence to social systems, in a quest to achieve secure social infrastructures.MHI already has a solid record in digital plant operation control (DIASYS Netmation) and remote monitoring and automated plant operation (TOMONI). These and other DX infrastructure technologies have given the Company accumulated expertise in modeling and simulation technologies, based on extensive research, development and field verification; data collection and analytics technologies, derived from operation and maintenance based on abundant operational experience; and AI technologies that have been applied in diverse products and systems. In addition, through integration of security technologies cultivated through the Company's defense products, etc., MHI aims to provide solutions in safety and security.In recent years MHI Group has set its target on introducing not only individual new technologies but also technologies that enable digital optimization and operation of multiple products as a package. This solution concept has been named "SigmaSynX"(1). The objective here is not to collect and analyze data from multiple customers, but rather to achieve comprehensive digital optimization of multiple plants and machines operated by a specified customer.Going forward, using MHI Group's unique operational data relating to digital technologies, the Company will provide new digital value by accelerating "smart connections" between products and digital technologies.Outline of the new organizationThe new headquarters is being established to powerfully drive forward the Company's digital business.The new headquarters will focus on strategic functions by making decisions concerning the digital strategy directions of the entire MHI Group, building digital-driven infrastructure and operating across divisions, developing DX human resources, and overseeing governance, resource optimization, etc.The new headquarters will target further value creation through cross-divisional use of digital assets and ecosystem building, and will undertake cross-organizational promotion of use of software and other digital product-related modular designs and digital platforms.The new headquarters will address development of digital services and applications relating to customer contacts in the business segments; and agile development functions(2) in integrated monitoring, operation, and other digital platforms; and also focus on promoting digital experience and digital platform development.(1) SigmaSynX is MHI's standard platform for synchronizing and coordinating diverse machine systems. It is an amalgamation of digital technologies for achieving optimal operation by making machine systems intelligent. www.mhi.com/news/210316.html?style=preview(2) Agile development is a method for undertaking system or software project development. Development is carried out through repeated installation and testing in small units, rather than treating a system as one large unit.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on spectra.mhi.com. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing into Africa to defend Safari crown

TOKYO, Jun 17, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team heads to Safari Rally Kenya on June 23-26 with the goal of defending its crown on the iconic African event.2022 GR YARIS Rally1The Safari made a long-awaited comeback to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar in 2021 when Sebastien Ogier led a one-two finish for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Ogier is making Kenya his third WRC appearance of the 2022 season as the team targets a 10th victory on the event for the Japanese marque.The team's first priority is to return to the podium after a challenging previous round in Sardinia, although Kalle Rovanpera still left the Italian island having increased his drivers' championship lead to 55 points. Both Rovanpera and Elfyn Evans will be motivated for the trip to Kenya after experiencing its pitfalls on their debuts there last year. Takamoto Katsuta, on the other hand, travels back to the scene of his maiden podium finish (after finishing second to Ogier one year ago) as he looks to continue his 2022 scoring streak for TGR WRT Next Generation.Having previously featured incredibly long stages on roads that were still open to the public, today's Safari Rally runs to a format similar to other modern WRC rounds. Still, the drivers and cars face incredibly demanding gravel roads with some very rough and rocky sections, while the weather has the potential to dramatically change the conditions in a very short space of time.Shakedown takes place on Wednesday before the rally begins on Thursday lunchtime from capital city Nairobi, with the nearby Kasarani super special kicking off the competitive action. The rest of the weekend is centred around the service park on the shores of Lake Naivasha, around 100 kilometres to the north-west. Friday's repeated loop of three stages around the lake includes a brand new test, Geothermal, as well as the weekend's longest: the 31.25 kilometres of Kedong. Saturday takes place further north close to Lake Elmenteita with two passes of three familiar stages from 2021, although Soysambu has been extended and Elmenteita itself will be run in the opposite direction to before. A trio of stages south of Naivasha are all run twice to form Sunday's final day, including the new Narasha test and Hell's Gate, which hosts the rally-ending Power Stage.Quotes:Jari-Matti Latvala (Team Principal)"It was exciting to have the Safari Rally back on the calendar last year and even though the rally is very different to before, the spirit of the event is the same: it's more about endurance than outright speed. At one stage it looked like it would be difficult for us to even be on the podium and in the end we finished one-two. So again this year we need to be prepared for anything to happen, and it will be another big test for the Rally1 cars. The conditions can look good during reconnaissance and then turn out to be very demanding in the rally. It's not rough all of the time but you can get quite a lot of big ruts with many really soft and sandy places. But all four of our drivers can count on the experience they gained last year and have some idea of what to expect."Sebastien Ogier (Driver car 1)"I'm looking forward to returning to Kenya. Last year we had a really nice welcome and a great atmosphere. It was something special and different to what we are used to. To win was the cherry on the cake and it will be great to try to repeat that this year with a bit of knowledge of what to expect from the stages. We saw that it can be a very tough rally; I think nearly everybody had an issue at some point and we came back from over two minutes down to win. So it's definitely a rally where you have to never give up, and this year with the cars still being so new, we might have to be even more clever than before."Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)"Even though we have experience from last year, it's always difficult to know exactly what we're going to face on an event like the Safari Rally. There's always an element of the unknown, and we saw last year that the conditions can change massively from one area to the next. Some sections can be very soft sand, some parts are much more hard-packed, and in other places it's very rough. It's a big challenge for the drivers, for the cars and for the engineers as well. I've had a good feeling with the GR YARIS Rally1 on gravel so far and the speed has been there. Safari requires something slightly different in terms of setup but hopefully that positive feeling will still carry forward."Kalle Rovanpera (Driver car 69)"I think the Safari Rally will be another interesting weekend. Of course Sardinia was maybe not as strong a rally for us as we wanted it to be, but I'm hoping that in Kenya maybe we will not lose so much time opening the road and we can try to have a good weekend. Last year, it was a good rally for us overall, we were just a bit unlucky to get stuck when we did at the end of Friday. This year we will try to avoid things like that and tackle the event in a better way, because we see a lot of difficult conditions there and things we don't normally see in modern rallies. So for sure it's a special place and you need to approach it a bit differently too."Please visit www.wrc.com for the latest. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

NEC Australia to Participate in the Open RAN Pilot Workgroup to Transform Regional Mobile Coverage

TOKYO, Jun 17, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - NEC Australia, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation and a leading Australian ICT solutions and services firm, was selected to participate in Phase One of the Department of Regional New South Wales (DRNSW) Mobile Coverage Project (MCP) Active Sharing Partnership leveraging Open RAN technologies.The NSW Government's Active Sharing Partnership aims to improve mobile coverage where people live and work in rural and regional NSW. The key objectives of the Partnership are to establish fit-for-purpose commercial and delivery model solutions for active sharing, investigate the application of different technical and deployment scenarios, and deliver improved mobile coverage in regional NSW using active sharing solutions.The NSW Government has committed $300 million AUD from the Regional Digital Connectivity program for the Mobile Coverage Project to be delivered across multiple stages. The Stage 1 - Mobile Coverage Project will invest $50 million AUD towards the Active Sharing Partnership's delivery. The Active Sharing Partnership is being delivered in two phases - Phase One (design) and Phase Two (delivery).Eight companies were selected following an RFP that closed in January this year for Phase One of the Active Sharing Partnership. In addition to Open RAN, other active sharing models are being trialed as part of Phase One, including MOCN (Multi-Operator Core Network), MORAN (Multi-Operator Radio Access Network), and Roaming. Under Phase One of the Active Sharing Partnership program, NEC and other key industry players, including MNOs, will collaborate to identify and design Open RAN-based active sharing solutions that could be implemented in Phase Two to address mobile blackspots across regional NSW.Successful participants from Phase One of the program may be invited to submit funding requests to implement active sharing solutions in Phase Two, expected to commence later in 2022. Results from the initial $50 million AUD investment will inform a broader rollout underpinned by the remaining $250 million AUD committed to the program by the NSW Government. Open RAN enables the disaggregation and integration of the RAN components based on open specifications, allowing flexibility to combine best-of-breed components from a diversified supply chain and reduce mobile infrastructure costs."NEC is uniquely positioned as a leading network product and solution provider with extensive expertise and insightful understanding of Open RAN technology's benefits. Capitalizing on our global experiences with operators as well as government-led initiatives such as NeutrORAN in the UK, NEC is pleased to be part of the Active Sharing Partnership initiative as DRNSW closes the digital divide for regional communities," said Krisztian Som, Head of 5G Sales, Asia Pacific at NEC."Network Sharing makes perfect sense as it reduces the need to build additional mobile towers across regional NSW. Regional communities deserve reliable and affordable mobile services. We are committed to trialing innovative approaches to achieve the long-term solutions our rural and regional communities deserve," said Paul Toole, Deputy Premier of NSW.About NEC AustraliaNEC Australia is a leading technology company, delivering a complete portfolio of ICT solutions and services to large enterprise, small business and government organizations. We deliver innovative solutions to help customers gain greater business value from their technology investments.NEC Australia specializes in information and communications technology solutions and services in multi-vendor environments. Solutions and services include: IT applications and solutions development, unified communications, complex communications solutions, network solutions, display solutions, biometrics, research and development services, systems integration and professional, technical and managed services. For more information, visit NEC Australia at au.nec.comAbout NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Toyota: Adjustments to Domestic Production in June and July

Toyota City, Japan, Jun 16, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - We at Toyota would like to again apologize for the repeated adjustments to our production plans due to the parts shortage resulting from the spread of COVID-19, and for causing considerable inconvenience to our customers who have been waiting for the delivery of vehicles, suppliers, and other parties concerned.We have decided to suspend operations at some of our domestic plants from June 17 (Friday) due to low attendance caused by a COVID-19 outbreak at one of our suppliers, and a shortage of parts supply caused by a production equipment defect at another supplier. The suspension plan this time is in addition to the recent announcement (Adjustments to domestic production in June).As a result of those suspensions, the number of units affected will be approximately 40,000 and the global production plan for June is revised to be approximately 750,000 units from the original plan (approx. 800,000 units). The production forecast for the fiscal year remains unchanged (approx. 9.7 million).The global production plan for July will be announced at a later date.As it remains difficult to look ahead due to the shortage of semiconductors and the spread of COVID-19, there is a possibility that the production plan may be lower. However, we will examine the parts supply closely to minimize sudden decreases in production, and continue to make every effort possible to deliver as many vehicles to our customers at the earliest date.For the suspension schedule of domestic operations in June and July, please visit the link: https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/37473329.html Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Sony and Honda Sign Joint Venture Agreement to Establish New Company, “Sony Honda Mobility Inc.”, to Engage in Mobility Business

TOKYO, Jun 16, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Sony Group Corporation ("Sony") and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ("Honda") announced today that they have signed a joint venture agreement to establish a new company to engage in the sale of high-value-added electric vehicles (EVs) and provide services for mobility. Today's announcement is the furtherance and result of discussion of a strategic alliance in the mobility field between the parties as announced in the joint press release entitled "Sony and Honda Sign Memorandum of Understanding for Strategic Alliance in Mobility Field" on March 4, 2022.The new company will aim to bring together Honda's cutting-edge environmental and safety technologies, mobility development capabilities, vehicle body manufacturing technology and after-sales service management experience, with Sony's expertise in the development and application of imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network and entertainment technologies, to realize a new generation of mobility and services for mobility that are closely aligned with users and the environment, and continue to evolve going forward.Sony and Honda plan to establish the new company within 2022 and to begin the sale of EVs and provision of services for mobility in 2025. The establishment of the new company and the start of business are subject to relevant regulatory approvals.New Company Overview (Planned)Company name: Sony Honda Mobility Inc.Location: Tokyo, JapanCapital: 10 billion yenInvestment ratio: Sony Group Corporation 50%, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. 50%Members of the board:Yasuhide Mizuno, Representative Director, Chairman and CEO Izumi Kawanishi, Representative Director, President and COO Shugo Yamaguchi, Director and Deputy PresidentKojiro Okabe, Director and Executive Vice PresidentManabu Ozawa, Director (Honda Motor Co., Ltd.)Naoya Horii, Director (Sony Group Corporation)Comment from Kenichiro Yoshida, Representative Corporate Executive Officer, Chairman, President and CEO, Sony Group Corporation"Based on our vision to 'make the mobility space an emotional one,' Sony's initiatives in the mobility business are centered around the three areas of safety, entertainment and adaptability. As we continue our learnings in these areas, we are excited to have met a partner, Honda, with extensive global achievements and knowledge, and to sign the joint venture agreement between the two companies. Going forward, we aim to contribute to the evolution of mobility by combining Honda's cutting-edge environmental and safety technologies, mobility development capabilities, vehicle body manufacturing technology and after-sales service management experience, with our expertise in imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network and entertainment technologies."Comment from Toshihiro Mibe, Director, President, Representative Executive Officer and CEO, Honda Motor Co., Ltd."Honda continues to take on new challenges in the environmental, safety, and other advanced fields in order to be a driving force for social change through mobility, and 'become the power that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative'. We are very pleased to have signed a joint venture agreement with Sony, which has strengths in advanced digital technology, and shares our desire to take on new challenges. Since its announcement in March, many people have expressed their expectations for this joint venture. At the new company, we will strive to create new value ​​through the fusion brought about by the combination of our different industries, so please look forward to future developments."Comment from Yasuhide Mizuno, Representative Director, Chairman and CEO of Sony Honda Mobility Inc. (Planned) and Senior Managing Officer of Honda Motor Co., Ltd."We are very pleased to sign this joint venture agreement, which represents the start line from which we embark on the major challenge of revolutionizing mobility and creating new value. We plan to fully leverage the technological assets the two companies possess in different fields, such as Sony's sensing technology and Honda's original mobility development capabilities, to realize mobility and services that inspire and excite our customers. By bringing together the expertise of both companies, we aim to lead the way in a new era."Comment from Izumi Kawanishi, Representative Director, President and COO of Sony Honda Mobility Inc. (Planned) and Executive Vice President of Sony Group Corporation"I am very pleased to have reached this day, which represents a major milestone in realizing the initiatives we have been working on until now with the aim of contributing to the evolution of mobility. By combining the many strengths of Sony and Honda, we intend to accelerate development and lead the evolution of mobility by realizing mobility as an emotional space rooted in safety and security, and the related services." Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

Mitsubishi Power Signs Decarbonization Agreement for Hydrogen Fuel Conversion with Leading Egyptian O&G Refinery ANRPC

Alexandria, Egypt /Duisburg, Germany, Jun 16, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Mitsubishi Power, a power brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) signed a full turnkey contract with leading Egyptian O&G Company Alexandria National Refining & Petrochemicals Company (ANRPC) to provide advanced hydrogen fuel conversion technology solutions, supporting the company to achieve its decarbonization goals. The solution will be installed at the ARNPC refinery plant in Alexandria, which provides 30% of Egypt's gasoline supply for domestic consumption.Under the terms of the contract, Mitsubishi Power will be responsible for the design, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of fuel conversion solutions for the existing 100 ton/hour boiler, enabling it to fire up to 100% hydrogen by the end of 2023. This includes the installation of state-of-the-art hydrogen burner technology and advanced control solution to ensure efficient and safe operations.Commenting on the agreement, Salah Gaber, Chairman & CEO of ANRPC, said: "We are thrilled to partner with world technology leader Mitsubishi Power on innovative fuel conversion solutions that will help us to achieve our commercial goals while reducing our carbon footprint by 22,000 tons annually. Modernizing existing conventional boilers by enabling fuel conversion is a practical and important milestone to enable Egypt to deliver on its ambitious energy efficiency and decarbonization goals under the national Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy. We look forward to working together with Mitsubishi Power to achieve all milestones and deliver the project on schedule."Falk Hoffmeister, Head of Service at Mitsubishi Power Europe GmbH, said: "We are proud to partner with Egypt's leading O&G refinery ANRPC, providing them with our groundbreaking hydrogen fuel conversion technology solutions, which will enable ANRPC to lower its CO2 emissions. The addition of hydrogen, considered to be the fuel of the future to ANRPC's fuel mix will deliver the flexibility they need to support them in achieving cost efficiencies. This latest contract is part of our continued commitment at Mitsubishi Power to develop technologies that convert existing thermal power systems to hydrogen and thus support our customers in the region to achieve their decarbonization goals."Khalid Salem, President, Middle East and North Africa at Mitsubishi Power said, "The ANRPC hydrogen fuel conversion project is a landmark project for Egypt's energy industry and we are honored to partner with O&G leader ANRPC to help them fulfill the country's ambition to become a low carbon energy leader. In the lead up to COP27, the ANRPC project is especially significant as it reflects Egypt's commitment to the development of a national hydrogen industry. At Mitsubishi Power, we will continue to work with our partners in Egypt and across the Middle East and North Africa to help them achieve decarbonization and deliver a sustainable future for the region."ANRPC, which was established in 1999, is the leading refining company in Egypt working under the umbrella of Egyptian general petroleum corporation (EGPC).Mitsubishi Power's hydrogen firing technology enables thermal power systems owners to decarbonize their existing plants with minimal modifications. This is part of Mitsubishi Power's mission to work with customers to create a sustainable roadmap to reduce CO₂ emissions.About Mitsubishi Power in Europe, Middle East and AfricaMitsubishi Power is a power solutions brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), with a large presence across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. This includes centres of excellence in Germany, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, besides vast customer support capabilities in many countries across the region. Mitsubishi Power designs, manufactures and maintains equipment and systems that drive decarbonization and ensures the delivery of reliable power. Among its solutions are a wide range of gas turbines, including hydrogen-fuelled gas turbines and solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), and an experienced services business with an extensive reach across the entire region. Committed to providing exemplary service and working with customers, Mitsubishi Power's TOMONI intelligent solutions leverages advanced analytics, adaptive control technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning to make power plants smarter, lowering emissions, increasing flexibility and supporting decarbonization.For more information, please visit: https://power.mhi.com/regions/emea/PRESS CONTACT:Claudia WedemannMitsubishi Power Europe GmbHTel.: +49 203 8038 1368Email: c_wedemann@eumhi.com Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)