What is the key to the 2022 Japanese automobile industry?

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The car world is said to be a "change period once in a hundred years." Let's take a look at what is the key to the 2022 car world, which continues to change at a speed that exceeds the expectations of experts. [Image gallery] 2022 is a turning point in the automobile industry !? Two points & EV and the strategy of each manufacturer predicts 2022 !! (15 sheets) * This article has been revised as appropriate from December 2021. ..Sentence / Yoichiro Watanabe, Soichi Shimizu, Naoya Suzuki, Best Car Editorial Department, Photograph / Best Car Editorial Department, etc., Photograph / Hitoshi Mihashi / N-RAK PHOTO AGENCY First appearance: "Best Car" January 26, 2022 issue

■ What will happen in 2022? Predicting with 5 themes in the car world

Both Vezel and NX are popular and the delivery date is still extended.

Noah / Voxy will debut in January, Step WGN in May, and Serena in September. I'm looking forward to all three manufacturers.The image is Toyota's new Noah

Joban Expressway is also a candidate for the 120km / h section, but it seems unlikely during 2022.

Violations subject to driving skill inspection

● Theme 1: What will happen to the semiconductor problem in 2022? (TEXT: Yoichiro Watanabe) There are many models with a delivery time of 3 months or more due to lack of semiconductors, wire harnesses, and various units. Due to the influence of Vezel moving its production plant to Suzuka Seisakusho, which is the same as the N series and Fit, PLaY stopped accepting orders after reaching one year in most cases in more than eight months. Even in Lexus, NX is said to be six months to one year. Depending on the dealer, there is also a story that "the car navigation system of the dealer option will be delayed, so first deliver the vehicle and then install the car navigation system when it arrives." Although it is the end of the delay in delivery, the manufacturer says, "Even after the lockdown is over, new mutant strains are occurring and the future is uncertain." Assuming a long-term battle, I would like to start purchase negotiations early. Some dealers say, "We have been proposing transfers about a year before the vehicle inspection of our car expires." ● Theme 2: Great attention !! 2L class minivan war intensifies (TEXT: Yoichiro Watanabe) The new Noah / Voxy will be announced on January 13, 2022, and the next Step WGN will also be released in May. After that, Serena will make a full model change. For the first time, rivals that have been engaged in fierce sales battles for many years will be renewed in the same year. Demand for minivans is still strong even with the declining birthrate and aging population, accounting for around 25% of small / ordinary cars sold as new cars. Some dealers say, "Even if children grow up, many customers continue to ride minivans because they are attracted to the size of the car." The competition is fierce because it is in the hot-selling category, and there are many users who are practically oriented and the price is severe, so 2022, when there are new minivans that are affordable, is also an opportunity to purchase! ● Theme 3: Will 2022 be in full swing in the 120km / h era !? The 6-lane system has been completed and the maximum speed has been raised to 120km / h. Will there be an expansion of the target section in 2022? The sections scheduled to be added are Tohoku Expressway (between Urawa IC and Sano Smart IC, 52.9km), Joban Expressway (between Kashiwa IC and Mito IC, 71.2km), Higashi Kanto Expressway (between Chibakita IC and Narita JCT, 26.1km). km), but the addition during 2022 is likely to be postponed. This is because the traffic volume on the expressway has been drastically reduced for a long time due to the influence of the new corona in the past year, and it seems that sufficient safety verification data has not been obtained. Unfortunately, the expansion is expected to be implemented in the next few years. ● Theme 4: Points of interest for F1, WRC, WEC ・ F1… The biggest change from 2021 is the withdrawal of Honda. However, at least for 2022, Honda will support the assembly of power units. Even if the name changes, Honda's power unit is still alive in 2022.・ WRC ... The biggest change is that it will be a 1.6L, straight-four turbo + motor hybrid. With the addition of motor power, it is inevitable that there will be a series of cases where the SS time will be faster. It will be the most spectacular battle. And this is the best scenario where Rally Japan will be the champion deciding match !! ・ WEC ... 2022 Peugeot newly enters the top category hypercar. A must-see for Peugeot, who has always won the championship in the category in which he participated, and Toyota, the champion of endurance! ● Theme 5: The enforcement of the revised Road Traffic Act will inevitably cause confusion !? .. 1) Mandatory driving skill inspection (actual driving on the course) if there is a violation (see table) for 3 years up to 160 days before the birthday if you are 75 years old or older 2) Introducing a support car limited license Two points are included. You can take the driving skill test as many times as you like from half a year before the driver's license renewal deadline, but if you fail, you cannot renew it. This is a measure in response to the increasing number of serious accidents in cars driven by the elderly, but confusion after the enforcement will be inevitable.