Toyota: Exports from Japan to China and New Tire Warning Device

08/02/96

Toyota Motors have reported that during the first half of the year their exports from Japan to China increased more than 7.5 times over what they had been during the same period a year earlier. Toyota's exports to China have recovered rapidly over the past year. Before that they had been decreasing, ever since a tariff exempt measure on imported cars was repealed. The unexpected increase is probably not due to a rise in the price competitiveness of Toyota's cars, but is more likely due to an increase in Chinese purchasing power.

In other news, the Toyota Motor Corp said on Wednesday that it had developed a new system that could detect loss of air pressure in all four tires on a vehicle. Toyota's central research unit jointly developed the tire pressure warning system with Nippondenso Co Ltd. The system will help a car's performance and fuel efficiency, while detecting tire damage at an early stage, Toyota said.

Even under normal driving conditions, tires naturally lose air pressure. The news system constantly monitors tire revolution speed signals from anti-lock brake system wheel speed sensors, and uses those measurements to calculate Tire elasticity and air pressure. When tire pressure drops more than a specified amount below the optimum level, a warning lamp alerts the driver.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel