Latest News
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Saudi Arabia announces record non-oil imports of $137 Billion in 2024
Saudi Arabian non-oil imports will reach a record high of 515 billion Riyals ($137.29 Billion) by 2024, according to the official news agency. The kingdom is continuing its efforts to diversify away from its oil-dependent economy. The world's largest oil exporter invests billions of dollars in its Vision 2030 plan. This plan focuses on reducing the country's reliance on crude oil and increasing infrastructure spending to boost industries such as tourism, sports, and manufacturing. Saudi Arabia also works to attract more investment from outside to ensure that its ambitious plans remain on track. State news agency SPA reported that non-oil exports have increased by 13% in the last year and by over 113% since Saudi Vision 2030 was launched. SPA quoted Abdulrahman Althukair as CEO of the Saudi Export Development Authority attributing the increase in non-oil imports to "the kingdom's sustained economic diversification efforts". Saudi Arabia released its annual report 2024 for the Kingdom's 2030 Vision Plan on Friday. The kingdom attracted foreign direct investments worth 77,6 billion riyals (20,69 billion dollars). The country has set a goal to attract $100 billion of foreign direct investment annually by the end of the decade.
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Finance Minister: Pakistan wants an extra 10 billion yuan for China's swap line
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that Pakistan had requested China to increase its swap line to 10 billion yuan (US$1.4 billion). He also said he expects the country to launch a Panda Bond before year's end. Aurangzeb said in an interview at the International Monetary Fund's and World Bank Group's spring meetings in Washington that Pakistan already has a 30 billion yuan Swap Line. Aurangzeb stated that "from our perspective, reaching 40 billion renminbi is a good goal to aim for... we have just made this request." China's central banks has promoted currency swap lines to a number of emerging economies including Argentina and Sri Lanka. Pakistan is also making progress in the issuance of its first panda bonds - debt denominated yuan on China's bond market. He said that the talks with the presidents from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Asian Development Bank - two of the lenders in line to offer credit enhancements - were constructive. He said: "We are looking to diversify our loan base, and we've made good progress in that direction. We hope that we can make an initial print this year." Aurangzeb also expected that the IMF's executive board would sign off on the Staff Level Agreement for its new $1.3billion arrangement under the Climate Resilience Loan Program as well as on the first review of their ongoing $7billion bailout program in early May. The IMF's board of directors would have to approve the payment, which is $1 billion. This programme was secured by Pakistan in 2024. It has played an important role in stabilizing the economy. Aurangzeb, when asked about the economic impact of the tensions between India and Pakistan following the murder of 26 men in a tourist area earlier this month said that it "wasn't going to be helpful." The attack in India sparked outrage, grief, and calls for action towards Pakistan. New Delhi accuses Pakistan of funding and encouraging terrorists in Kashmir, an area both nations claim, and over which they have fought 2 wars. India and Pakistan launched a series of countermeasures against each other after the attack. Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian airlines, suspended trade relations, while India suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which regulates the water-sharing on the Indus River, its tributaries, and its banks. After past frictions, trade flows between the countries have already dropped sharply and totaled just $1.2 billion in 2018. Aurangzeb predicted a growth of around 3% for the current fiscal year that ends in June 2025. He also estimated a growth range between 4-5% next year and 6% afterward. $1 = 7.2864 Chinese Yuan Renminbi (Reporting from Karin Strohecker, Washington; additional reporting by Ariba Sharif in Karachi; editing by Dan Burns).
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Paper says Pirelli will declare the end of Chinese investors' control over governance.
An Italian newspaper reported that Pirelli's board would likely approve an agreement between shareholders on Monday to ensure that Sinochem, the largest shareholder in the group, did not have control over the tyre manufacturer. Sinochem, a Chinese shareholder in Pirelli, has been a hindrance to Pirelli's U.S. growth plans. According to an agreement reported in the Il Messaggero, Sinochem will keep its 37% stake, but it will not be considered as controlling Pirelli for regulatory purposes. Il Messaggero reported that the agreement would declare Sinochem has no dominant influence on the company's governance as decisions are made by the management. Pirelli and Sinochem did not respond to requests for comment. Pirelli said earlier this month that it was putting on hold its plans to further invest in the United States, as it sought to ease tensions related to Sinochem being its largest shareholder. The Pirelli board will meet on Monday, to approve the financial report of the company for 2024. The board meeting, originally scheduled for the end of march, was delayed by one month due to tensions between investors. (Reporting and editing by Aidan Lewis; Giulio Piolovaccari, Valentina Za)
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Van Oord Expands its Trencher Fleet
Dutch offshore installation firm Van Oord has introduced Jet-It as the latest unit to join its trencher fleet, following the completion of a test campaign in the North Sea.Building on the expertise gained from its previous trenchers, Dig-It and Deep Dig-It, Van Oord has developed another trencher dubbed Jet-It.With the addition of the latest unit, Van Oord now operates three trenchers, all designed for the purpose of cable burial.While Dig-It and Deep Dig-It feature mechanical cutting and jetting technology, the Jet-It is equipped with jetting technology only.According to Van Oord, it boasts an efficiently designed system which uses high-pressure water to fluidize the substrate and create a trench.“Each trencher in our fleet has its own strengths, allowing us to tailor our approach to soil conditions, trench depth, and project requirements. With the arrival of Jet-It, we can offer even greater efficiency in subsea cable installation,” Vann Oord said on social media.It is said to be ideally suited for the burial of inter-array and export cables in sandy and light clay soils.With two high-pressure, frequency-driven water pumps, it is capable of trenching to depths of up to 3 meters. Multiple integrated sensors enable the trencher to operate at high speed with great precision.Designed for fast mobilization, the Jet-It can be deployed on any vessel in a single lift, Van Oord said.
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The global trade situation is further complicated by the contradictory statements of US and China.
In an interview published Friday, U.S. president Donald Trump claimed that tariff negotiations with China were underway, but Beijing denied there were any talks taking place. This is the latest of a series conflicting signals about what progress has been made in de-escalating a trade battle threatening to sap growth globally. Trump told TIME that there were talks and that Chinese President Xi Jinping called him. He repeated this assertion to reporters on his way out of the White House to Rome, where he would attend the funeral for Pope Francis. China responded in a statement from its foreign ministry posted by the Chinese embassy in the U.S., "China and the U.S. have NOT been in consultation or negotiations on #tariffs." "The U.S. shouldn't be creating confusion." Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said that it would be great if China opened its markets to U.S. goods and that tariffs might help make this happen. "Free China. "Let's go into China and work it," he said. "That would be fantastic. It would be great, but I am not sure I will ask for it. They don't want the door open. Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign Minister, said on Saturday that Beijing adheres to international rules regarding U.S. tariffs and will seek solidarity with other nations. According to a Chinese foreign ministry statement, Wang stated that certain countries have their own priorities and engage in coercive and bullying transactions. They also provoke trade wars without any reason. The back and forth adds to uncertainty about Trump's tariff policy. Not just in regards to China, but to the dozens countries that are scrambling to make their own deals, to reduce the heavy import taxes he imposed since reentering the White House. His team of negotiators conducted what was a lightning round trade talks with the foreign officials that had swarmed Washington for the spring meetings the International Monetary Fund Group and World Bank Group. While Trump officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, touted signs of rapid progress many of their colleagues were more circumspect. The IMF's finance chiefs were sending home a renewed sense of urgency to reduce the risk posed by tariffs. "I am walking away from these meeting with a clear understanding of what is at stake, and the risks for jobs, growth, and living standards around the world," Irish finance minister Paschal Donohoe said. The meetings here... reminded of the need to reduce uncertainty in the coming weeks and months. DE-ESCALATION There were some signs of de-escalation, even though it was unclear whether a deal is being made to avoid the imposition in early July of higher tariffs. Business groups claim that China has exempted certain U.S. pharmaceuticals from the steep tariffs it imposed on Chinese imports earlier this month. A list of 131 categories of products that are allegedly being considered for exemptions is also circulating in some business and trade groups. The list includes chemicals, vaccines and jet engines. China has yet to publicly address the issue. Bessent said that both sides view the current situation as unsustainable. Trump told reporters in the White House that Japan was very near to signing a trade agreement. Analysts see this as a test case for other bilateral agreements, even though the talks may be difficult. Many expect Shigeru Shiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, and Donald Trump to announce an agreement when they meet in Canada at the Group of Seven summit in June. Trump told TIME he made "200 deals", which he said would be finished in three to four weeks. He declined to give specifics. He said that he would be happy if tariffs remained between 20% and 50% in a year. The president has claimed that his thickets of trade barriers would revive U.S. Manufacturing Industries that have been eroded by global competition. The majority of economists warn, however, that this would increase prices for U.S. consumer and raise the risk of recession. The U.S. stock market was on track to gain a week, even though it has been down about 10% since Trump took office in January. It is also lagging behind other indexes, and the dollar has dropped at an unprecedented pace. Investors were encouraged by signs that the U.S. was willing to ease off its trade war with China. Wall Street's major indexes increased slightly as investors sought clarity on the U.S./China trade front. Trump has imposed tariffs on imports from all countries, as well as a 10% blanket tariff. He also increased duties on autos, steel and aluminum. He also proposed additional industry-specific taxes on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. According to industry estimates, this could lead to a 12.9% increase in drug prices across the U.S. The IMF meeting this week was dominated by discussions about Trump's tariffs. Finance ministers were vying for one-on-1 meetings with the U.S. Treasury secretary. Bessent described the initial discussions with South Korea on Thursday as "very succesful". Seoul called it a "good beginning." Next week, further discussions will take place. The Swiss government said that it was satisfied with the initial meeting between Bessent and Switzerland. The U.S. Trade Office said that it was "constantly engaging" with Japan and others countries but said Trump would decide whether or not they proceed. The IMF's Kristalina Gheorgieva warned that there was no sign of progress in other countries despite her urging. She said this week that they could lead to a serious slowdown of global growth. Reporting by Bureaus Worldwide; Writing by Andy Sullivan, Dan Burns and Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Marguerita Choy
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Angola's Finance Minister says that country stress testing for lower oil prices and IMF program is more likely
Angola runs stress tests to assess the impact of a drop in oil prices on the government's finances, said Finance Minister Vera Daves de Sousa on Friday. She added that this situation makes a request for a loan program from the IMF more likely. After U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs, Brent oil futures briefly fell below $60. This was the lowest level for four years. The contract closed at $66.91 per barrel on Friday. Daves de Sousa said in an interview at the International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in Washington that "we are rolling out stress tests scenarios." De Sousa explained that a decline of less than $45 in oil prices would require an additional budget. She said that the government is working to improve tax administration, increase enforcement of property taxes and mitigate the effect of lower oil prices. Many smaller and riskier emerging countries, including Angola have felt the impact of recent volatility in fixed income markets, particularly U.S. Treasuries. Angola was forced to pay $200m earlier this month when JPMorgan issued an margin call on a $1billion total return swap, a loan that the lender issued in December and which was backed by dollar bonds issued by Angola. De Sousa stated that she was in discussions with JPMorgan about measures that could be taken to avoid a margin call. She also said that investors and rating agencies had not given her any negative feedback on the payment. She said that there were no negative connotations. Instead, they were surprised at how quickly we had been able to raise such a large amount of money. The government is currently examining the possibility of requesting an IMF financing program. De Sousa, when asked about Chinese loans backed with oil, said that the government would have to pay another $8 billion. It expected to be in a position to pay this back by 2028, rather than 2030-2031 as originally anticipated. Angola is also borrowing more money, mainly from China's EXIM Bank, but this money was not secured by collateral, it was concessional, and allocated to specific projects, such as improving internet capability in rural areas, or improving education. De Sousa stated that Angola would love to tap into international capital markets, but does not plan to do so for the time being. We want to go on the market but with the way things are going, this isn't the right time. We will keep an eye on it to make sure we are prepared for the next time. De Sousa said that officials from the Trump administration had confirmed in Washington, in meetings held there, their commitment to fund the Lobito railway corridor without specifying the exact amount. The project is designed to transport vital minerals from central Africa's copperbelt into the West. (Reporting and editing by Paul Simao; Karin Strohecker)
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The global trade situation is further complicated by the contradictory statements of US and China.
In an interview published Friday, U.S. president Donald Trump claimed that tariff negotiations with China were in progress, but Beijing denied there were any talks taking place. This is the latest in a string of contradictory signals about what progress has been made in de-escalating a trade conflict that threatens to sap global economic growth. Trump told TIME that talks were underway and that Chinese President Xi Jinping called him. He repeated this claim to reporters on his way out of the White House to Rome for the funeral service of Pope Francis. China responded in a statement from its foreign ministry posted by the Chinese embassy in the U.S., "China and the U.S. have NOT been in consultation or negotiations on #tariffs." "The U.S. shouldn't be creating confusion." Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said that it would be a great win for the United States if China opened its markets to U.S. goods and that tariffs might help make this happen. "Free China. "Let's go into China and work it," he said. "That would be fantastic. It would be great, but I am not sure I will ask for it. They don't want the door open. The back and forth added to the uncertainty over the current state of play regarding Trump's erratic policy. Not only in regards to China, but as it pertains the dozens countries scrambling for their own deals to relieve the burden of hefty import tax he unleashed after returning to the White House. His team of negotiators conducted what was a lightning round trade talks with the foreign officials that had flooded Washington this week to attend the spring meetings for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group. While Trump officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, touted signs of rapid progress, their counterparts, such as the finance chiefs from the IMF, were more circumspect. They were also urged to return home urgently in order to reduce the risk posed by the tariffs. Paschal Donohoe, Irish Finance Minister, said: "I am walking away from these meeting with a clear understanding of what is at stake, and the risks there are for jobs, growth, and living standards around the world." The meetings here reminded me why we must leave no stone unturned over the next few months and weeks to find ways to reduce uncertainty. DE-ESCALATION There were some signs of de-escalation, even though it was unclear whether or not deals would be struck to prevent the imposition of higher tariffs in early July. China has exempted certain U.S. products from its high tariffs. Business groups claim that Beijing allowed U.S. pharmaceuticals to enter China without paying the 125% duty it imposed in response to Trump’s 145% tariffs. A list of 131 categories of products that are allegedly being considered for exemptions is also circulating in some business and trade groups. The list includes chemicals, vaccines and jet engines. China has yet to make a public statement on the matter. Trump's administration also signaled in recent days that it was looking to defuse tensions with China. Bessent said both sides view the current situation as untenable. Trump also told reporters in the White House that an agreement with Japan was close. Analysts see this as a test case for other bilateral agreements, even though the talks may be difficult. Many expect Shigeru Shiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, and Donald Trump to announce an agreement when they meet in Canada at the G7 Summit in June. Trump told TIME he made "200 deals", which he said would be finished in three to four weeks. He declined to give specifics. He said that if tariffs remained between 20% and 50% in a year, he would call it a victory. Trump has claimed that his thickets of trade barriers would revive U.S. Manufacturing Industries that have been hollowed by global competition. However, economists warn that this would increase prices for U.S. customers and the risk of recession. U.S. stock indexes are on track to gain a week, even though they have fallen by about 10% since Trump took office in January. They lag other countries' indexes, and the dollar is falling at an unprecedented pace. The dollar rose for the first time in over a month on Friday, while European and Asian shares were headed to a second consecutive week of gains. Investors took comfort from signs that the U.S. was willing to end its trade war with China. Wall Street's major indexes grew slightly as investors sought clarity on the U.S./China trade front. Trump has imposed additional tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum in addition to country-specific duties. Trump has also proposed additional levies for the pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries. According to industry estimates, this could lead to a 12.9% increase in drug prices across the U.S. The tariffs of Donald Trump dominated the IMF meetings in this week. Finance ministers vied for one-on-1 meetings with the U.S. Treasury secretary. Bessent described the initial talks with South Korea on Thursday as "very succesful." Seoul referred to it as a "good beginning." Next week, further discussions will take place. Switzerland said that it was also satisfied with the initial meeting between Bessent and Switzerland. The U.S. Trade Office said that it was "constantly engaging" with Japan and others, but Trump would decide whether or not they proceed. The IMF's Kristalina Gheorgieva warned that the lack of progress in other countries could lead to a serious slowdown of global growth. Reporting by Bureaus Worldwide; Writing by Andy Sullivan, Dan Burns and Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Marguerita Choy
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Dollar gains and tech shares are boosting the stock market
The majority of stock indexes rose on Friday. The Nasdaq was up over 1% during afternoon trading, as shares related to tech gained. Meanwhile, the dollar is headed for its biggest weekly gain in more than a month. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, saw its shares rise 1.5% on Nasdaq after exceeding profit expectations and reaffirming AI spending targets. This earnings season, uncertainty surrounding the impact of U.S. president Donald Trump's tariff offense and the global trade tensions that resulted have dominated the results calls. Trump claimed in an interview published on Friday that tariff talks with China were in progress, but Beijing denied there were any discussions taking place. This is the latest of a series conflicting signals about what progress has been made in de-escalating a trade battle that threatens to sap global economic growth. Trump told Time magazine there were talks taking place, and that Xi Jinping, the Chinese president had called him. The tit-for-tat tariffs, which began on April 2, when Trump announced hefty import duties, had threatened to stall the trade between two of the world's largest economies. They also sparked concerns of a global slowdown. Chip Rewey of Rewey Asset Management in New Jersey, an investment adviser registered with the state, said: "This week, you may have felt some relief that the worst-case scenario of Trump's tariff actions will not come true." We haven't yet returned to the highs. "I think we'll be somewhere between those two ranges for a long time." The S&P 500 is expected to rise for the week while Europe's STOXX 600 has risen more than 2% in the past week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 14.98 points or 0.04% to 40,108.31. The S&P 500 gained 33.83 points or 0.62% to 5,518.60. And the Nasdaq Composite increased 182.65 points or 1.07% to 17,349.66. The MSCI index of global stocks rose by 4.47 points or 0.54% to 824.28. The pan-European STOXX 600 ended with a gain of 0.35%. The Nikkei 225 index rose 1.8% in Japan on Friday. It has recovered all of its losses following Trump's announcement that the United States would be imposing the highest tariffs it had ever seen. Trump suspended most of these tariffs, with the exception of China, which will have a 10% tariff. The dollar has recovered slightly in relation to the euro and the yen after taking a hit due to the tariff news. The dollar index (which measures the greenback in relation to a basket including the yen, the euro and others) rose by 0.07%, reaching 99.49. Meanwhile, the euro fell 0.1%, at $1.1377. The dollar gained 0.66% against the Japanese yen to reach 143.56. The price of gold, which has risen this year due to investors seeking safe haven assets that are not tied to the dollar, was last down by 1.94% on Friday, at $3,283.21 per ounce. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. notes dropped 3.7 basis points, to 4.268% from 4.305% at late Thursday. U.S. Treasury rates declined after recent hopes that the U.S. China trade war would ease and investors considered the possibility of the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates if economic activity slowed.
Where's my car, dude? Toyota hybrid buyers facing long waits
Four people with knowledge of the situation say that Toyota's gasoline/electric hybrids are in high demand, and suppliers are struggling to keep up. This has led to parts shortages and long waits for buyers.
Two people said that Toyota dealers in major markets such as the U.S.A., Japan China and Europe have low stock of hybrids. Toyota, which is the leader in hybrids, faces a major challenge from this surge in demand. It also validates the Japanese automaker’s bet in the technology, despite predictions from some competitors that battery-only vehicles would wipe hybrid demand out.
LMC Automotive's data shows that global sales of hybrids and plug-in models have nearly tripled in the last five years.
One person said that Toyota customers in Europe are currently waiting 60-70 days on average for new hybrids. This is about twice as long as it will be by 2020. Toyota says that the Yaris Cross Hybrid and RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid are the vehicles with the highest demand in Europe and the shortest supply.
A Toyota website shows that buyers in Japan wait between two and five months to receive many models.
One person reported that Prius hybrids had been sold out at a dealership on the West Coast of the United States by mid-February, and only a few Camry hybrids remained.
Another person stated that delivery times in India have improved from last year, but still range between two and nine months, depending on the model. Ten industry figures were interviewed, including Toyota employees and suppliers. They described the bottlenecks that are affecting the supply chain for hybrid vehicles. Toyota has not previously disclosed details of the parts or suppliers involved and the measures it is considering in order to relieve the pressure on one market.
Toyota stated in a press release that the demand for hybrid cars had increased "significantly" in the last year, in all regions. It was responding by increasing production. The automaker claimed to have improved its vehicle delivery lead times over the last year.
The report stated that "currently, the production capacity of hybrid parts and components at our suppliers' and in-house part manufacturing is aligned with our annual production plan and our vehicle assembly capacities."
Snarls for Supply
Some customers are frustrated by the delivery times.
Saugata Dasgupta is an Asia Development Bank executive based in New Delhi. He told us he had ordered a hybrid Toyota Innova Hycross in January 2023. He learned in August 2024 from the dealer that he would have to wait another 25-30 weeks.
Another email arrived this month: He will need to wait 15 to 25 more weeks.
Dasgupta claimed that he had given up on waiting by then and purchased a gasoline powered model from the local automaker Mahindra & Mahindra.
Two of the people who spoke to us were anonymous because they were not authorized to reveal the information.
One person said that a shortage of magnets in parts for Aisin Corp was a major problem. This person stated that Aisin, a major component maker for the Toyota Group, was unable to obtain rotors or stators from their suppliers. As a result of this, delivery of hybrid motors by Toyota was delayed. The magnets were sourced in Japan and China but the supply problem for Aisin, according to the person, was global.
Another person stated that Denso's inverters were also delayed due to bottlenecks with suppliers at the second and third tiers. Inverters are used to convert the battery current into a form that can be controlled by the motor.
Two people said that Toyota is looking at other suppliers than Denso to meet its component needs, and may even consider manufacturing inverters there.
Toyota didn't address questions about specific suppliers. Aisin Denso refused to comment. Last year, it was reported that Toyota plans to convert the majority of its line to hybrid vehicles. This could increase pressure on suppliers.
Addition of Capacity
Varinder Waddhwa is a vice-president at Toyota Kirloskar Motor in India. He said that the removal of supply chain bottlenecks has already led to "significant rationalization" in wait times.
Wadhwa stated that the company has recently increased its capacity to produce 32,000 additional vehicles per year and is investing in another 100,000 vehicles. Toyota also invested $14 billion in a battery factory in North Carolina in order to meet the demand for hybrid vehicles. It has stated that it will begin shipping batteries for North American electric vehicles in April. Toyota built hybrids in nearly half of its vehicles assembled in the U.S.
Toyota's hybrids are one of the few bright spots in China where it is facing fierce competition, such as BYD. Toyota's total sales in China fell by 7% in 2024 compared to a year ago, but sales of electrified vehicles (mostly hybrids) grew by 27%.
According to someone familiar with the situation, competitors such as Hyundai, and its Kia affiliate, are also struggling to ramp-up production of hybrids. This is primarily due to a shortage of capacity.
This month, a Hyundai dealer in Seoul stated that it would take a full year to receive the hybrid version for the Palisade SUV. Documents from Kia show that the wait time for its Carnival hybrid is 10 months and seven months for Sorento.
Hyundai has not responded to any questions regarding the current situation.
Hyundai announced in August that it will double its hybrid line-up to 14 models by 2030, to counter the slowdown of EV adoption.
Honda, another hybrid player, reported strong demand in North America and Japan but refused to provide specifics about delivery times.
Hybrids are worth the wait for some customers because of fuel savings.
Rakesh Kumar is a businessman from India's Uttar Pradesh. He finally received his Toyota Hyryder in March, nearly five months after ordering it.
He said: "We already have a hybrid in our family, and I know that it gets better mileage than any other vehicle." Aditi Shirouzu and Norihiko Shrouzu reported; additional reporting was done by Daniel Leussink and Heekyong Yah in Seoul and Hyunjoo Ji and Heekyong Jin in Tokyo; Saurabh Sharma and David Dolan edited the story.
(source: Reuters)