Tokyo auto show highlights technology but Trump's tariffs loom large

TOKYO (AP) — The Tokyo Mobility Show is highlighting more than just cars or the types of fuel they use from electric to hydrogen, but also various kinds of futuristic transport.

Think scuttling robotic chairs, like the Uni-One from Honda Motor Co. The Tokyo-based maker of the Accord sedan says it is all about personal mobility as a mode for quick transport by 2035. Just sit on the boxlike machine as it zips around quietly.

Toyota Motor Corp. showed a helicopter-like aircraft with six propellers, which was still in development in cooperation with U.S. aviation company Joby.

Such gadgetry, as well as more regular vehicles, are on display at the show, which runs through Nov. 9 at Tokyo Big Sight exhibition space. It was previewed to media Wednesday, ahead of its opening to the public Thursday.

Looming in the backdrop of the fanfare is the threat of auto tariffs under U.S. President Donald Trump, raised to 15% from 2.5%, although an improvement from the 25% he slapped on initially.

Trump’s tariffs are expected to erase more than 2 trillion yen ($13 billion) off automakers’ annual operating profits, according to calculations from recent earnings.

Masahiro Moro, chief executive of Mazda Motor Corp., among the worst hit of the Japanese automakers, said his engineers were developing cars that understood drivers’ emotions, as well as those that contribute to sustainability by reducing carbon emissions the more you drove.

“We believe the joy of driving has the power to shape the future,” he told reporters.

Nissan Motor Corp. showed a prototype, or experimental model, of its Sakura electric car, fitted with a solar-system roof that slides out at the top, called “Ao-Solar Extender,” to generate power while the car is parked. The word “ao” means “blue” in Japanese.

Nissan said the model’s message is about adding value to one’s life, as the generated power can be used for other gadgets around the house as well as work as power stations during disasters. The concept car targets environmentally conscious moms, according to Nissan.

“Japan is at the center of what we do because we are a Japanese company,” Nissan Chief Ivan Espinosa said on the sidelines of the show.

While in town earlier this week for talks with new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Trump also met with the heads of Japan’s businesses, including Espinosa. The exchange of ideas was constructive, according to Espinosa.

Nissan, as well as Toyota, said they were considering importing their own models made in the U.S. back into Japan as a way to mitigate the trade imbalance.

The Japanese government has promised to buy Fords and invest $550 billion in the U.S.

Japanese automakers export more than a million autos to the U.S., while selling 4.4 million vehicles a year in Japan. Only about 16,000 American cars were sold in Japan, a tiny fraction of the Japanese auto market. Japanese cars make up about 40% of the American market, according to Cox Automotive, although much of the vehicles sold there are made at U.S. plants.

Toyota Chief Executive Koji Sato said customers’ tastes differed by markets, and offerings must be tailored to meet various needs.

“We want to be an important part of the American auto industry with a long-term perspective,” he told a small group of reporters.

Toyota showed a still-developing tiny collapsible electric bicycle called Land Hopper that Japan’s top automaker suggests should get packed in the upcoming Land Cruiser FJ, the latest version of the hit recreational vehicle that had its beginnings in 1951 as the Toyota BJ.

A flagship model, Land Cruiser sales have topped 12 million in 190 countries and regions. Targeting Japanese off-roaders, the new Land Cruiser FJ goes on sale in Japan next year — with a 2.7-liter (1-gallon) gasoline engine.

Japanese exports to the U.S. have risen in recent months as automakers tried to beat the tariffs. The crunch is expected to hit next year.

“Automakers will look to increase U.S. production where possible and diversify export destinations to other key markets, such as Australia and Canada,” said Darcey Bowling, auto analyst at BMI.

“We expect that Japan’s vehicle market will face challenges due to the elevated U.S. tariffs.”

Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama

Members of the media and guests look at Toyota's Corolla concept during the press day of the Japan Mobility Show, in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Members of media and guests look at the Toyota's Kids mobi during the press day of the Japan Mobility Show, in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Members of the media and guests look at Toyota's Land Cruiser 'FJ' during the press day of the Japan Mobility Show, in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Members of the media and guests look at a Century's concept model during the press day of the Japan Mobility Show, in Tokyo, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

Honda's Uni-One, a kind of personal mobility for the future, is among the vehicles on display at the Tokyo Mobility Show, set to open to the public Thursday, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025 at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

Nissan Chief Executive Ivan Espinosa speaks to reporters on the sidelines of the Tokyo Mobility Show set to open to the public Thursday, at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

Honda Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe speaks to the media at Tokyo Mobility Show during a media day at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (Daiki Katagiri/Kyodo News via AP)

The new Toyota Land Cruiser is on display at the Tokyo Mobility Show, set to open to the public Thursday, at Tokyo Big Sight Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025 in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

Toyota's President and CEO Koji Sato, left, speaks to the media beside Toyota vehicles on display at Tokyo Mobility Show during a press day at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (Daiki Katagiri/Kyodo News via AP)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Walt Disney Co. staged a blockbuster-sized presentation for theater owners Thursday at CinemaCon, showing the opening to the new Star Wars film and new footage from “Avengers: Doomsday,” showing the return of Chris Evans as Captain America.

Robert Downey Jr. was there to introduce the footage, which brings together the Avengers and the X-Men together in a Marvel Studios film for the first time.

“What I want to do is give away like 30,000 spoilers right now,” Downey said. He’s returning to the franchise not as Iron Man, but as the main antagonist Victor Von Doom, or Doctor Doom.

Kevin Feige said they’ll be re-releasing “Avengers: Endgame” in September in the lead up to “Doomsday,” which, he said, “picks up where ‘Endgame’ left off.” It opens on Dec. 18.

“I think we might have nailed it,” Downey said.

Evans said he’d only come back if there was a good reason, and Doctor Doom was a good reason.

“The Mandalorian and Grogu” director Jon Favreau showed the audience the opening of the first Star Wars movie in seven years. The film, which opens on May 22, begins with a title card saying the Galactic Empire has fallen and ex-warlords remain scattered throughout and, in the Outer Rim, the Mandalorian and Grogu hunt them down.

The sequence shows a one man, and child, battle against one such ex-warlord, with a big fight on a snowy cliff as they attempt to take down what looks like AT-AT walkers. Later, Sigourney Weaver’s character scolds the bounty hunter for his messy job, which left the target dead and them with no new information.

She also proposes a new mission, which would put him back in the orbit of the Hutts, with Jabba’s heir Rotta the Hutt (Jeremy Allen White).

“’Star Wars’ made me fall in love with movies,” Favreau said. “I hope that our excitement and love and joy of Star Wars translates to a new generation of fans.”

He said that there are over 49 minutes of sequences filmed for large format screens.

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen made an appearance on behalf of “Toy Story 5,” in what is apparently their first time ever at CinemaCon. The two actors joked about seeing footage of them voicing Woody and Buzz for the original film, which came out in 1995, and saying they look like their grandkids.

Hanks said one of his iconic lines, “you are a toy” and Allen responded with one of his, “you are a sad, strange little man.”

They also showed a new scene showing Woody’s arrival back to Bonnie’s house after his adventures with Bo Peep. The film opens on June 19.

Dwane Johnson helped close out the presentation to promote the live-action “Moana,” in which he reprises his role as Maui.

He said his character was inspired by his grandfather, holding up a picture of him on his phone, describing him as charismatic with a “wicked sense of humor” and a “one of a kind spirit.” He also loved to sing. Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” he said, was a favorite.

The new Moana, Catherine Laga’aia, also appeared on stage with Johnson.

“I grew up watching ‘Moana’ with my family,” she said. “I can’t believe I had this experience.”

Disney releases dominated the box office in 2025 with nearly $2.5 billion in domestic ticket sales and $6.6 billion globally with hits like “Lilo & Stitch,”“Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” A box office driver for many years, it's fitting that Disney is closing CinemaCon.

Already this year, Disney has boosted the box office with its original Pixar hit “Hoppers,” which has made over $355 million globally to date. Kicking off the summer movie season, which begins the first weekend in May, is not a Marvel movie, however. It’s a legacy sequel from their 20th Century Studios: “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” Gird your loins.

Disney's impact on the exhibition industry cannot be understated. Last year its releases made up over 27.5% of the annual domestic box office alone. The studio also has a 60-day exclusive theatrical window, the most robust in Hollywood.

The Walt Disney Co. is facing its own challenges too. On Tuesday, the company began mass layoffs in its ranks, expected to total around 1,000 with some of the cuts coming from the movie studio and its marketing department.

Orson Welles once said, “if you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.” And, so, for an exhibition industry that operates on small margins, and with the box office still down around 20% from its pre-pandemic norms, Disney is about as close as the conference can get to going out on a high note.

Tom Hanks, left, and Tim Allen, cast members of the upcoming film "Toy Story 5," speak during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at CinemaCon on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Alan Bergman, Chairman of Disney Entertainment, Studios, The Walt Disney Company, speaks during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at CinemaCon on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Jon Favreau, director of the upcoming film "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu," speaks during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at CinemaCon on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Alan Bergman, Chairman of Disney Entertainment, Studios, The Walt Disney Company, speaks during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at CinemaCon on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Alan Bergman, Chairman of Disney Entertainment, Studios, The Walt Disney Company, speaks during the Walt Disney Studios presentation at CinemaCon on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

A maintenance worker walks past advertisements for the upcoming films "The Devil Wears Prada," left, and "Supergirl" during the opening day of CinemaCon 2026, the official convention of Cinema United, on Monday, April 13, 2026, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

CinemaCon attendee Patrick Dougall strikes a pose inside an advertisement for the upcoming film "Toy Story 5" during the opening day of CinemaCon 2026, the official convention of Cinema United, on Monday, April 13, 2026, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)