Japan’s automakers look beyond cars as technology race intensifies
Tech #4690644#8ed5f9594b10417794fc78f8b4f5b59f#AP Archive#Ivan Espinosa#Japan#Koji Sato#Louisa Prieto#Mouri Mika#Sergio Casillas#Takashi Niino#technology#TT Japan Mobility Show#Yosuke Nishi
(13 Oct 2026)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chiba, Japan - 13 October 2026
1. Wide of a vehicle illuminated wireframe installation at Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2026
2. Close of color projection on a wheel
3. Wide of attendees looking at engine prototype
4. Various close-ups of engine prototype
5. Mid of Nissan ProPILOT autonomous vehicle
6. Close of Nissan ProPILOT autonomous vehicle
7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Mouri Mika, Japan Mobility Show Bizweek visitor:
"This is just my personal opinion, but as Japan’s working-age population continues to shrink due to the declining birth rate and aging population, I think autonomous driving technology will be particularly needed in rural areas. I believe we’ll see autonomous driving become increasingly widespread in these areas in Japan in the coming years.”
8. Mid of attendees wearing VR helmets during a demonstration
9. Wide of Japanese car maker Toyota's booth showcasing a robot
10. Close of a robot at Toyota's booth
11. Mid of an exhibitor showcasing a technology using VR and robotics
12. Mid of a robot carrying a drone
13. Wide of flying vehicle prototype
14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Yosuke Nishi, CEO of Shirogane Lab:
"We’re continuing our development efforts with the aim of having air mobility vehicles made by Japanese manufacturers flying in Japanese skies. Ultimately, we want to give people the choice of travelling by car or taking to the skies.”
15. Wide of small portable motorbike
16. Close of a screen displaying the digital 'eyes' of the motorbike
17. Close of a man wearing glasses inside a car
18. Wide of a supercar butterfly doors open
19. Wide of a booth reading "Empower better mobility with AI"
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Louisa Prieto, visitor from Mexico, 29-years-old:
"The AI is super impressive. I think they have a lot of users in automotive. I think they have a lot of opportunities. But you know, you have to trust a lot of your decisions, so it’s a little bit scary but actually it’s cool, I think."
21. Mid of Station AI booth
22. Mid of an exhibitor seen through a car window next to a photo of Mount Fuji
23. Pan of a visitor travelling the event on a mobility scooter
24. Mid of a visitor trying VR rally simulation
25. Wide of two visitors exchanging their business cards inside a vehicle
26. SOUNDBITE (English) Sergio Casillas, 26-years-old, megatronics engineer from Mexico studying in Japan:
"Well, they went to migrate to electric vehicles, unfortunately they got China as a competition. And China has magnets there so they got a lot of advantage, if you talk about the territory. But I feel like Japan knows how to do it, so they are going to find a way, and they are going to develop good cars as well."
27. Pan of Ivan Espinosa, Nissan CEO, visiting the exhibition
28. Mid shot of Takashi Niino, chairman of JEITA, the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association and NEC, talking with Koji Sato, chairman of JAMA, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, and Toyota Vice Chairman
29. Wide of Niino and Sato surrounded by media
30. Various of Niino and Sato shaking hands after a press conference
31. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Koji Sato, chairman of JAMA, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Vice Chairman & Chief Industry Officer (CIO) Toyota
++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
32. Wide of attendees walking at the venue
33. Wide of attendees walking in front of a sign reading CEATEC 2026 and Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2026
STORYLINE:
LEAD IN:
STORYLINE:
For Mouri Mika, a visitor to the event, autonomous driving could be vital for Japan's future.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chiba, Japan - 13 October 2026
1. Wide of a vehicle illuminated wireframe installation at Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2026
2. Close of color projection on a wheel
3. Wide of attendees looking at engine prototype
4. Various close-ups of engine prototype
5. Mid of Nissan ProPILOT autonomous vehicle
6. Close of Nissan ProPILOT autonomous vehicle
7. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Mouri Mika, Japan Mobility Show Bizweek visitor:
"This is just my personal opinion, but as Japan’s working-age population continues to shrink due to the declining birth rate and aging population, I think autonomous driving technology will be particularly needed in rural areas. I believe we’ll see autonomous driving become increasingly widespread in these areas in Japan in the coming years.”
8. Mid of attendees wearing VR helmets during a demonstration
9. Wide of Japanese car maker Toyota's booth showcasing a robot
10. Close of a robot at Toyota's booth
11. Mid of an exhibitor showcasing a technology using VR and robotics
12. Mid of a robot carrying a drone
13. Wide of flying vehicle prototype
14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Yosuke Nishi, CEO of Shirogane Lab:
"We’re continuing our development efforts with the aim of having air mobility vehicles made by Japanese manufacturers flying in Japanese skies. Ultimately, we want to give people the choice of travelling by car or taking to the skies.”
15. Wide of small portable motorbike
16. Close of a screen displaying the digital 'eyes' of the motorbike
17. Close of a man wearing glasses inside a car
18. Wide of a supercar butterfly doors open
19. Wide of a booth reading "Empower better mobility with AI"
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Louisa Prieto, visitor from Mexico, 29-years-old:
"The AI is super impressive. I think they have a lot of users in automotive. I think they have a lot of opportunities. But you know, you have to trust a lot of your decisions, so it’s a little bit scary but actually it’s cool, I think."
21. Mid of Station AI booth
22. Mid of an exhibitor seen through a car window next to a photo of Mount Fuji
23. Pan of a visitor travelling the event on a mobility scooter
24. Mid of a visitor trying VR rally simulation
25. Wide of two visitors exchanging their business cards inside a vehicle
26. SOUNDBITE (English) Sergio Casillas, 26-years-old, megatronics engineer from Mexico studying in Japan:
"Well, they went to migrate to electric vehicles, unfortunately they got China as a competition. And China has magnets there so they got a lot of advantage, if you talk about the territory. But I feel like Japan knows how to do it, so they are going to find a way, and they are going to develop good cars as well."
27. Pan of Ivan Espinosa, Nissan CEO, visiting the exhibition
28. Mid shot of Takashi Niino, chairman of JEITA, the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association and NEC, talking with Koji Sato, chairman of JAMA, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, and Toyota Vice Chairman
29. Wide of Niino and Sato surrounded by media
30. Various of Niino and Sato shaking hands after a press conference
31. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Koji Sato, chairman of JAMA, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Vice Chairman & Chief Industry Officer (CIO) Toyota
++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
32. Wide of attendees walking at the venue
33. Wide of attendees walking in front of a sign reading CEATEC 2026 and Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2026
STORYLINE:
LEAD IN:
STORYLINE:
For Mouri Mika, a visitor to the event, autonomous driving could be vital for Japan's future.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/8ed5f9594b10417794fc78f8b4f5b59f