Japan Is Poised to Fill an EV Gap Left by China
A new Honda facility in Canada shows that Asia’s auto industry is ready to meet North American needs.
Canada calling.
Photographer: Graham Hughes/BloombergNow is a good time for established Japanese car companies to seize the opportunity to expand in North America to meet electric-vehicle demand. US protectionism and security fears are stymying the overseas expansions of Chinese names like BYD Co. and SAIC Motor Corp., leaving the door open to those Western governments deem as more friendly.
Honda Motor Co. is a good example. The Japanese giant is on the verge of a deal with Canada to set up in the southern province of Ontario, Bloomberg News reported. The new facility would build electric vehicles and receive incentives from the federal government. This would be in addition to an existing plant that makes combustion-engine models in Alliston, Ontario.