Tech Japan plans next-generation passenger plan

The new proposal, which also calls for exploring hydrogen as a fuel, comes a year after Mitsubishi Heavy Industries withdrew from the SpaceJet project, an unsuccessful attempt to produce a regional jet. Wednesday's document attributed that failure to a lack of understanding on the safety certification process, scant experience in dealing with overseas suppliers, changes in the market environment and insufficient government support. [...] METI provided 50 billion yen ($330 million at current rates) for the SpaceJet, which entered into development in 2008. But Mitsubishi Heavy bore the brunt of the burden, investing 1 trillion yen. METI envisions the new initiative as a collaboration with multiple manufacturers. They may include Mitsubishi Heavy as well as Kawasaki Heavy Industries, aerospace suppliers and automakers, which have a head start in hydrogen-powered engines. The government is also expected to offer more support, not just in research and development but in setting international technological standards and ensuring access to supply chains for clean-tech materials that are in high demand. The plan calls for 5 trillion yen in public and private investments in first 10 years of the project.

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