ASAHI KAISEI CRP UNSP/ADR - AHKSY STOCK NEWS

Asahi Kasei's 5th Global Automotive Consumer Survey reveals key insights about customer expectations for fully autonomous vehicles across Japan, China, Germany, and the United States. The survey highlights that car users remain conservative about autonomous technology, with most preferring to retain manual control options and expressing safety concerns.

A silent cabin emerged as the most valued interior feature, with 50% of respondents prioritizing this aspect. This is particularly relevant as 25% of BEV users report excessive noise as their main complaint. The survey indicates that primary activities in autonomous vehicles would be listening to music (56-66% across regions) and passenger conversation, rather than sleeping or working.

Regarding sustainability, Western markets emphasize recyclable materials and sustainable production, while Asian markets focus more on drivetrain technology. Notably, 35% of respondents in Germany and the USA would switch brands for more sustainable options.

Asahi Kasei has been awarded the 2024 TSMC Excellent Performance Award for its Pimel™ photosensitive Polyimide material, specifically recognizing its excellence in technology collaboration and production support for advanced packaging. The award was presented at TSMC's 2024 Supply Chain Management Forum on December 2, 2024.

Pimel™ is widely used in semiconductor applications including buffer coatings, passivation layers for bumping, and dielectric layers for re-distribution bumping. The company is expanding production capacity with a new Pimel™ plant scheduled to begin operations this fiscal year to meet growing demand in advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes.

Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemical has commenced commercial operations of a new carbonates plant in Lianyungang, China, using Asahi Kasei's licensed technology to produce high-purity ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) using CO2 as main feedstock. The plant, which began operations in November 2024, has the capacity to utilize 54,000 tons of CO2 annually to produce 38,000 tons of EC and 70,000 tons of DMC.

These carbonates are essential materials for lithium-ion battery electrolytes used in electric vehicles. The technology implementation stems from a September 2021 license agreement between Asahi Kasei and Sailboat. Including this facility, Asahi Kasei's licensed technology now enables the use of approximately 300,000 tons of CO2 annually as feedstock across various licensees for producing polycarbonate and carbonates.

Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) has begun mass production of its next-generation InAs Hall element, the HQ0A11, featuring the company's smallest and thinnest package size at 0.8 x 0.4 x 0.23 mm. The new product achieves an 85% volume reduction compared to the previous HQ0811 model and offers 16% better signal-to-noise ratio.

The HQ0A11's position detection accuracy is over 3.5 times higher than the GaAs-based HG0C11, making it particularly effective for smartphone camera stabilization and autofocus systems. The device's high-sensitivity InAs compound technology and compact size make it ideal for applications in smartphone cameras, small robots, and other precision devices requiring position detection in spaces.

Asahi Kasei Battery Separator has broken ground on a new lithium-ion battery separator manufacturing facility in Port Colborne, Ontario. The plant, planned as a joint venture with Honda, is expected to begin commercial production in 2027. The facility will create over 300 full-time jobs and produce approximately 700 million square meters of coated lithium-ion battery separator annually. As Canada's first large-scale wet-process separator facility, it will support the North American electric vehicle market. The company has already begun local hiring and community engagement efforts, with more than five employees currently supporting the project's startup phase.

Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) will showcase advanced sensor technologies at CES 2025 aimed at improving aging-in-place solutions. The company will demonstrate new millimeter-wave radar and contactless monitoring systems that provide AI-ready data while maintaining user privacy. Key innovations include a camera-free fall detection system using antenna-in-module technology, a battery-free smart diaper with moisture detection, and a wristband thermometer featuring the AK9757P sensor. These technologies aim to support the 95% of adults 55 and older who consider aging in place an important goal.

Asahi Kasei and Honda have signed a shareholders' agreement to transform E-Materials Canada into a joint venture for lithium-ion battery separator production. Honda Canada will acquire a 25% stake through new share subscription, with Honda's total investment reaching approximately C$417 million (US$300 million). The joint venture, to be renamed Asahi Kasei Honda Battery Separator , aims to combine both companies' strengths in material and electrification technologies to produce high-quality separators for lithium-ion batteries. Operations are planned to begin in early 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

Asahi Kasei Medical has launched Planova™ FG1, a next-generation virus removal filter for biotherapeutics manufacturing, in October 2024. The new filter offers higher flux, approximately 7 times that of Planova™ BioEX, enabling shorter virus filtration time and less risk of virus breakthrough during process suspension. Planova™ FG1 demonstrated high protein filtration and virus removal performance under various conditions, even without a prefilter. It is compatible with standard cleaning and sterilization processes, allowing use with existing biopharmaceutical manufacturing equipment.

Asahi Kasei Medical plans to expand the Planova™ FG1 lineup with larger surface area filters to support efficient process scale-up. The launch aims to solidify the Planova™ brand's presence among biopharmaceutical manufacturers and contribute to safer, more efficient pharmaceutical production as demand for biopharmaceuticals grows by 5-10% annually.

Asahi Kasei, a Japanese technology company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Aquafil S.p.A., an Italian manufacturer of polyamide 6 (PA6), to develop a novel material for 3D printing applications. The collaboration aims to combine Aquafil's ECONYL® Polymer, a chemically recycled PA6, with Asahi Kasei's cellulose nanofiber (CNF).

The resulting compound, in the form of pellets or filaments, offers superior formability and strength, making it suitable for automotive and aeronautical applications. ITOCHU , which has invested in Aquafil, is supporting this initiative. Asahi Kasei plans to begin trial sales of the new compound material's filament in Q3 2025 across the EU, US, and Japan markets.

The innovative material will be showcased at upcoming industry events, including Fakuma, Sustainable Material Expo, and Formnext.