Tokyo, July 3 (Jiji Press)–Summer bonuses at major Japanese companies this year rose 4.37 pct from last year to hit a new record high amid the rising cost of living, a report by the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, showed Thursday.
The weighted average summer bonus among the surveyed companies stood at 990,848 yen, the highest since comparable data began in 1981, according to Keidanren’s first tally of this year’s summer bonuses.
The average was up for the fourth straight year on a first-tally basis. Keidanren said that the result reconfirmed the strong momentum for wage increases.
The initial tally covered a total of 107 companies from 18 industries, including 93 manufacturers and 14 nonmanufacturers.
Manufacturers posted an average of 1,035,889 yen, up 4.49 pct, while nonmanufacturers logged 857,602 yen, up 3.76 pct.
KARACHI — Atlas Honda Limited has announced revised retail prices for its motorcycle lineup, effective July 1, 2025, following the imposition of new taxation measures introduced in the federal budget for FY2025–26.
The updated prices reflect the application of an 18% Sales Tax and a newly introduced 1% NEV (New Energy Vehicle) Levy, both of which are now applicable across all models.
According to a notification signed by General Manager Sales Zia Ul Hassan Khan, the revised price for the company’s entry-level model CD70 (Red/Black/Blue) stands at Rs159,900, up from Rs134,237 before tax. The CD70 Dream now retails at Rs170,900, while the Pridor is priced at Rs211,900.
The popular CG125 model is listed at Rs238,500, and the CG125S and CG125S Gold are priced at Rs286,900 and Rs296,900, respectively. Among premium variants, the CB125F now costs Rs396,900, while the CB150F (Red/Black) is priced at Rs499,900. The CB150F (Silver/Blue) tops the range at Rs503,900.
The price adjustments come in the wake of broader fiscal reforms aimed at revenue generation, with auto sector products — including motorcycles — falling under the scope of new indirect taxes introduced in Budget 2025–26.
Sentiment sours in the US oil patch amid low crude prices Financial Times
Some oil patch execs say “drill baby drill” isn’t happening Axios
Is Trump’s commitment to increase production just a slogan? The Dallas Federal Reserve reports that tariffs are impacting Industry profits, and U.S. shale oil drilling will slow down. 富途牛牛
Dallas Fed: Largest US Oil, Gas Patch’s Outlook Deteriorating Hart Energy
Oil and gas activity contracts slightly as uncertainty remains elevated Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Frankfurt, 3 July 2025 — FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) on behalf of Bruker Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR), the parent company of biotechnology company NanoString Technologies, prepared the first economic damage report to be submitted to the newly established Unified Patent Court (“UPC”) in ongoing proceedings. The FTI Consulting report provided significant impetus to resolve the legal disputes between NanoString and 10x Genomics worldwide.
The expert opinion was prepared by Senior Managing Director Dr. Anke Nestler and Managing Director Michael Graser in the Economic and Financial Consulting practice at FTI Consulting.
The case before the UPC involved a damages claim by NanoString against its competitor 10x Genomics. In 2023, 10x Genomics had obtained a preliminary injunction against 10x Genomics blocking the global launch of new technology for analysing biological samples (spatial profiling). The injunction was based on the alleged infringement of European patent EP 4 108 782, which covers pharmaceutical measurement and detection processes.
An initial court ruling denied 10x Genomics a Europe-wide preliminary injunction, which was overturned at an appeal hearing. As a result, NanoString was barred from the market for eight months and filed for damages. The company was represented by law firm Bird & Bird and supported by an expert economic report prepared by Dr. Nestler and Mr. Graser. The exact amount of damages claimed remains confidential.
“This is the first time that an economic expert opinion on damages has been admitted in proceedings before the Unified Patent Court under the new rules,” said Dr. Nestler. “As independent experts, it was our task to quantify the economic damage in a comprehensible and legally sound manner — thus also setting an important impulse for the emerging decision-making practice of the UPC.” The preliminary injunction request against NanoString was one of the first cases filed at the Munich chamber of the UPC when it began operations in June 2023.
On 14 May 2025, Bruker Corporation and 10x Genomics announced a global settlement resolving all ongoing patent disputes. The agreement covers proceedings in the United States, before the European Patent Office and the UPC.
“The fact that our expert opinion was considered in the judicial review highlights the importance of solid economic analysis in the context of the new UPC,” said Mr. Graser. “Courts, companies and investors increasingly rely on comprehensible damage assessments – especially in highly specialised technology markets.”
The case illustrates the central role of the UPC in handling cross-border patent disputes, particularly those involving financial damages. The acceptance of structured expert evidence sets precedent for future cases under UPC proceedings.
About FTI Consulting FTI Consulting, Inc. is a leading global expert firm for organisations facing crisis and transformation, with more than 8,100 employees in 33 countries and territories as of March 31, 2025. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consulting’s services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalised and independently managed. The Company generated $3.70 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2024. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.
FTI Consulting, Inc. 200 Aldersgate Aldersgate Street London, EC1A 4HD
Solstad Offshore ASA: Invitation to webcast – presentation of Q2 quarter and first half year 2025 financial results
Skudeneshavn, July 3, 2025
Solstad Offshore ASA (SOFF) welcomes to presentation of its Q2 2025 report, Monday, July 14th, at 10:00 am CEST. The presentation will be held by CEO Lars Peder Solstad and CFO Kjetil Ramstad. It will be possible to ask questions.
The report and the presentation will be released 07:00 am CEST. Monday, July 14th, 2025, and made available on www.solstad.com and www.newsweb.no.
The cost of government borrowing has fallen in early trade, partly reversing a surge prompted by the chancellor’s emotional appearance in the Commons the previous day.
The yield on UK 10-year bonds fell to 4.52%, down from 4.61% at Wednesday’s close, as markets reacted to the prime minister’s comments that he worked “in lockstep” with Rachel Reeves.
The pound, which also fell on Wednesday, rose to $1.3668, although it has not regained all the ground it lost.
One analyst told the BBC that financial markets seemed to be backing the chancellor, afraid that if she left her job then control over the government’s finances would weaken.
“It looks to me like this is a rare example of financial markets actually enhancing the career prospects of a politician,” Will Walker Arnott, head of private clients at the bank Charles Stanley, told the BBC’s Today programme.
“I think the markets are concerned that if the chancellor goes then any fiscal discipline would follow her out the door and that would mean bigger deficits.”
Mohamed El-Erian, president of Queens’ College, Cambridge, and chief economic adviser at Allianz, warned that markets were likely to remain on edge.
“The minute you put a risk premium in the marketplace, it’s very hard to take out,” he told the Today programme.
“I suspect that we will see some moderation, but we will not go back to where we were 24 hours ago.”
One reason sharp movements in bond yields matter to individuals is because they can have an impact on the mortgage market, with higher yields potentially making mortgage deals more expensive.
Rises or falls, particularly in five-year bond yields, can feed through to so-called swap rates which lenders use to price their new fixed mortgage deals.
This was most obviously made clear following the mini-budget during the premiership of Liz Truss.
Mortgage rates have been steady of late, with lenders making some relatively small cuts as they compete for customers.
Reeves was at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, following the government’s U-turn on plans to cut billions of pounds through welfare reforms, when she became emotional and started crying.
The reversal of welfare reforms puts an almost £5bn black hole in Reeves’s financial plans.
The rise in borrowing costs was initially sparked by the feeling the chancellor might step down, seeming to indicate that the markets are supportive of her.
A Treasury spokesperson later said the chancellor was upset due to a “personal matter”.
On Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer backed Reeves, telling BBC Radio 4’s Political Thinking with Nick Robinson that he worked “in lockstep” with Reeves and she was “doing an excellent job as chancellor”.
Reeves has said her fiscal rules are “non-negotiable”. One is that day-to-day spending should be paid for with government revenue, which is mainly taxes. Borrowing is only for investment.
Jane Foley head of FX strategy at Rabobank said the “gutting” of the welfare bill made the chancellor’s job more difficult because the “savings that she had planned for will not be forthcoming”.
In consequence, she said, Reeves faces a choice of raising taxes, cutting spending elsewhere or issuing more government debt, all of which options face opposition from one quarter or another, meaning the government is “boxed in”.
“However, investors do place a lot of store in political stability. Reeves has demonstrated an understanding about the importance of the maintaining fiscal discipline and it is not clear who would replace her and if that person would have the same credibility amongst the investment community.
“Thus, Starmer’s demonstration of faith in Reeves has provided some reassurance to the market this morning.”
Other clean sources met an additional 33% of the increase in electricity generation in 2024, bringing the total share of clean sources to 70%. This represents a significant shift compared to the 2014-2023 period, when clean sources met 50% of the increase in electricity generation, with the rest coming from fossil fuels. In the decade before that, clean sources met just 25% of the increase in generation.
The 50% clean share during the 2014-2023 period might come as a surprise, given how narratives around BRICS energy systems often highlight growing coal and gas use. However, consistent capacity additions in both solar and wind power, along with moderate additions in hydro and nuclear, have shifted this paradigm.
China stands out as a leading example. In 2024, solar alone accounted for 41% of the increase in electricity generation, and all clean sources combined made up 82%, as reported in Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2025. That 41% solar contribution was more than three times higher than its share in the previous decade (2014-2023), when it met 14% of the increase in generation.
Other BRICS countries are also making noticeable progress. In 2024, solar met a quarter of their electricity generation growth, a substantial increase from 14% across the previous decade.
Solar’s rise is bringing fossil fuels to a tipping point in China
Recent Ember data shows that so far in 2025, China is meeting and exceeding its growth in demand with clean sources. Solar generation increased 120 TWh in the first five months of 2025 and met 86% of the increase in demand of 139 TWh. This, together with substantial growth in wind and other clean sources, led to a fall in fossil generation of 64 TWh, a 2.6% decrease from January to May 2024.
Thin capitalisation: The definition of ‘equity’ now encompasses positive retained earnings.
Taxation of retained earnings: If an entity does not distribute its after-tax earnings within 12 months following the end of its tax year, the Commissioner General (CG) for Tanzania Revenue Authority may deem 30% of the profit of the entity as having been distributed on a date 12 months post the completion of the tax year. A 10% withholding tax will be imposed on the deemed distribution.
If an entity subsequently makes a dividend distribution, it shall not be obligated to withhold income tax on the amount deemed distributed.
Withholding tax on hired motor vehicles: Withholding tax is levied at a rate of 10% on payments made by a resident person to another for the rental of motor vehicles.
Preparation or certification of returns of income by Certified Public Accountants: Corporations with gross annual income exceeding Tanzania Shillings (TZS) 100m and individuals with an annual turnover exceeding TZS 500m are required to have their income returns prepared or certified by a certified public accountant in public practice.
Taxation of sale of forest produce: Effective 1 January 2026, a resident person receiving payment for the sale of forest produce (timber, logs, mirunda and poles) must remit income tax in a single instalment amounting to 2% of the gross payment prior to the transportation of the forest produce. “Gross payment” means the farm gate price, purchasing price or value of the forest produce as determined by Tanzania Forest Service Agency, whichever is greater.
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT): The AMT rate has increased from 0.5% to 1% of turnover, applied to corporations with perpetual unrelieved tax losses for the current and preceding two tax years.
Reduced public stake in companies newly listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE): A company that is listed on the DSE with a minimum of 25% (previously, 30%) of its shares owned by the public benefits from a 25% corporate income tax rate for the initial three years following its listing.
Restriction of income tax exemption for operators in export processing zones (EPZ) and special economic zones (SEZ): Income generated by investors in the EPZ and SEZ, who manufacture for sale or distribute products in the domestic market, is not exempted from income tax.
Increased / new withholding tax rates:
Service fees for technical or management services paid by a resident person in the extractive sector to a resident person – 10%, up from 5%
Insurance premiums – 10%, up from 5%
Commission for gaming advertisement or promotion – 10%
2. Value-Added Tax
VAT withholding agent: A “withholding agent” means-
The Ministry responsible for Finance;
A Government entity which retains whole or part of its collected revenue; and
A registered person as may be appointed by the CG by notice
Withholding of VAT on taxable supplies: When a taxable supply at a standard rate of 18% is provided to a withholding agent, the agent is required to withhold 3% of the VAT due for goods and 6% for services.
Lower VAT rate for electronically paid supplies: Effective 1 September 2025, when a taxable supply at a standard rate is made to a person in Mainland Tanzania who is not VAT registered, and payment is rendered through a bank or an electronic payment system approved by the CG, the applicable standard VAT rate shall be 16% rather than 18%.
The CG shall specify the persons eligible and the manner of implementation of the lower VAT rate.
The supplier shall submit proof of bank or electronic payment, demonstrating that the consideration for the supply was made electronically or via bank, through the system or any manner directed by the CG.
Notification by intending traders: VAT registered intending traders must notify the CG if they do not begin making taxable supplies by the date specified in their VAT registration application.
Notification must occur within 90 days following the end of the stated period, accompanied by justifications for non-compliance. Failure to notify The CG may either grant or deny an extension for the commencement of taxable supplies. There is a deemed VAT deregistration if the CG declines to grant an extension.
Expansion of the definition of electronic services: The term “online intermediation services” included under the definition of “electronic services” now encompasses an online accommodation marketplace and payment services platform.
Accounting for withheld VAT: A withholding agent is required to account for and remit the withheld VAT by the due date of the VAT return, which is the 20th day of the subsequent month, or in a manner as may be directed by the CG.
VAT withholding certificate: A withholding agent who is liable to pay VAT shall, not later than the day on which VAT becomes payable on the supply (earlier of the date of invoicing, payment, or time of supply), issue to the supplier a VAT withholding certificate generated by the system approved by the Commissioner General.
The withholding certificate shall be issued in the form prescribed by the Minister for Finance and shall include the date of issue, taxpayer identification number (TIN) and value-added tax registration number (VRN) of both the supplier and the withholding agent, supply description, total consideration and the VAT amount.
A withholding certificate that fails to meet these criteria cannot be utilised by a supplier to claim a credit for the withheld output tax.
Credit for withheld output VAT: The supplier, in arriving at the VAT payable position, is allowed to subtract the VAT withheld (similar to input tax) provided they hold a valid VAT withholding certificate at the time of filing the VAT return for the relevant tax period.
Due date for filing VAT returns: The deadline for submitting monthly VAT returns is the 20th of the subsequent month, regardless of whether this date coincides with a weekend or public holiday.
Extension of zero-rating of supplies:
A supply of locally manufactured fertilizer shall continue to be zero-rated up to 30 June 2028
A supply of locally manufactured garments made from locally grown cotton shall continue to be zero-rated up to 30 June 2026
New exemption:
A supply of piped natural gas specifically for being converted to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to be used exclusively for fuelling motor vehicle from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028
An import of carbonization furnace for exclusive use in manufacturing of briquettes
Amended exemptions:
Unprocessed sisal fibre
Newspapers printed and published locally by a licenced person under the Media Services Act
Liquified petroleum gas
Compressed natural gas for motor vehicles
Supply of solar panels, modules, solar charger controllers, solar inverter, vacuum tube solar collectors and solar battery specifically designed for exclusive use in storage of solar power
Aircraft and aircraft maintenance to a local operator of air transportation.
Aircraft engine to a local manufacturer or assembler of aircraft or to a local operator of air transportation
An import of CNG plants equipment including CNG Compressors, CNG metering equipment, CNG storage cascades, CNG special transportation vehicles and CNG dispenser by a natural gas distributor
Abolished exemption:
Locally supplied forks, rakes, axes, dam liner
Locally supplied new pneumatic tyres used in agricultural and forest vehicles
Bitumen
Liquified natural gas
Compressed petroleum gas
Compressed or liquified gas cylinders for natural gas for cooking
3. Excise Duty
A licence for the manufacture of excisable goods will expire 12 months from the date of issuing. The licence previously expired on December 31 of each year.
The definition of financial institutions now encompasses microfinance service providers classified as Tier 1 under the Microfinance Act, permitting the imposition of a 10% excise duty on fees and charges paid to these providers.
The excise duty rate for pay-per-view television services delivered via cable, terrestrial infrastructure, satellite, or other technologies is 7%, up from 5%.
The deadline for delaying payment of excise tax and submitting excise duty returns is now the 25th day of the month subsequent to the month in which the duty or return is due. Previously, the deadline was the last day of the subsequent month.
Imported second-hand tableware, kitchenware, utensils, cutlery, and other related articles are subject to an excise charge of 20%.
New excise duty rates:
Imported margarine – TZS 50 per kg
Potatoes – TZS 50 per kg for locally produced and TZS 100 per kg for imported
Ice cream, whether or not containing cocoa – 5% for locally produced and 10% for imported, per kg
Beer made from malt – TZS 630 per litre / TZS 928 per litre/ TZS 937.90 per litre
Wine with domestic grapes content exceeding 75% – TZS 215 per litre
Cider – TZS 2,974.74 per litre
Opaque beer – TZS 555 per litre / TZS 978 per litre
Vodka, whiskies, and rum – TZS 4,003 per litre/ TZS 4,411.06 per litre/ TZS 4,411.06 per litre
Fireworks – 25%
Soap – 10%
Cufflinks and studs – 10%
Imported seats – 25%
4. Tax Administration
Private ruling relating to tax residence: A private ruling concerning tax residence status shall be accompanied by a tax residency certificate from the Commissioner General.
Disclosure of subcontractors: Entities in the construction and extractive sectors are required to inform the CG about their subcontractors within 30 days from the date of commencement of subcontracted activities. The disclosure must encompass the name of the subcontractor, contract value, nature of the subcontracted works, and the timeframe for executing the works.
Deemed admission of an objection: An objection to a tax assessment or liability is deemed accepted if filed within the statutory timeframe (30 days from receipt of the tax assessment) or on the date of payment of the tax deposit for validation of the objection (including the date when a lesser amount agreed upon by the CG is paid).
Failure to respond to objection settlement proposal within deadline: If an objector does not respond to a settlement proposal from the CG regarding a notice of objection within the legal timeframe (within 30 days from receipt of the proposal), the proposal of the CG will be deemed an objection decision, and the objector may appeal to the Tax Revenue Appeals Board.
Penalties for transfer pricing adjustments for loss-making entities: A person engaging in controlled transactions who does not ascertain the income and expenditure arising from such transactions in accordance with the arm’s length principle is subject to a penalty equal to 30% of the adjusted loss. Previously, penalties applied only to profit-making entities (100% of tax shortfall).
5. Gaming Tax
New rates on net winnings:
Land-based – 13%, up from 12%
Sports betting – 12%, up from 10%
6. City Service Levy
The rate has been reduced from 0.3% to 0.25% of turnover.
7. Airport Service Charge
Domestic flights – TZS 11,000 per passenger, up from TZS 10,000.
International flights – USD 40.4 per passenger, up from USD 40, applicable to both Tanzanian residents and non-residents.
8. Export Levy
The export of veneered sheets incurs an export levy of 30% of the free-on-board (FOB) value or TZS 150 per kilogramme, whichever amount is greater.
9. Industrial Development Levy
The following imports are liable to an industrial development levy calculated on the cost, insurance, and goods (CIF) value:
Kitchenware and tableware, other household articles, of plastics – 10%
Cast glass and rolled glass in sheets or profile – 5%
Drawn glass and blown glass in sheets or profile – 5%
Float glass – 5%
Glass, bent, edge worked, engraved or otherwise worked – 5%
Toughened (tempered) safety glass and laminated safety glass – 5%
Multiple-walled insulating units of glass – 5%
Framed and unframed glass – 5%
Optical fibre cables – 10%
Note: Levy on starch, pasta, and optical fibre cables shall commence on 1 January 2026
Proposed non-tax changes
1. Insurance Act
A foreign national entering Mainland Tanzania via land, seaport, or airport must, upon arrival, acquire an inbound travel insurance coverage at a premium equivalent to 44 United States Dollars in Tanzanian Shillings.
The inbound travel insurance is to offer emergency assistance to foreign nationals for a maximum duration of 92 days from the date of arrival, in cases of: (a) medical emergencies; (b) loss of luggage; (c) emergency medical evacuation or repatriation.
Mandatory insurance is not applicable to residents of the East African Community Partner States or the Southern African Development Community Partner States.
2. Railways Act
A HIV Response Levy will be imposed at a rate of TZS 500 on every train ticket.
3. Road and Fuel Tolls Act
The fuel levy rate on diesel and petroleum is TZS 523 per litre, up from TZS 513.
Fuel levy on kerosene is TZS 10 per litre. Previously, there was no levy.
4. Motor Vehicle (Tax on Registration and Transfer) Act
A HIV Response Levy will be imposed on first registration of motor vehicles as follows.
Electric Motor Vehicles (EVs)
Class
Power
Levy (TZS)
1.
Lower Power EVs (Below 50kWh)
95,000
2.
Mid Power EVs (50.1 – 100 kWh)
250,000
3.
High Power EVs (100.1 – 200 kWh)
250,000
4.
Performance / High-End (Above 200 kWh)
250,000
Motor Vehicles
S/N
Engine Capacity
Levy (TZS)
1.
0 cc – 1000 cc
50,000
2.
1001 cc – 1500 cc
100,000
3.
1501 cc – 2500 cc
150,000
4.
2501 cc and above
200,000
5.
Machinery (excavators, bulldozers, fork lifts)
250,000
5. Mining Act
A HIV Response Levy will be imposed at a rate of 0.1% on the gross value of minerals. The levy is collectible by the Mining Commission and is payable concurrently with royalty payments.
6. Bank of Tanzania Act
The Bank of Tanzania may grant loans and advances to commercial banks and financial institutions for up to three (3) months, using collateral such as credit instruments, treasury bills, performing loans, or other prescribed securities, to address liquidity crises and maintain financial stability.
7. Business Licensing Act
A business licence will not be granted to a non-citizen unless the business activity is permitted for non-citizens. The Minister for Trade may publish an order in the Gazette prohibiting certain business activities for non-citizens.
8. Merchandise Marks Act
Trademarks for imported goods in Mainland Tanzania must be registered with the Chief Inspector, regardless of the registration location.
Solstad Maritime ASA: Invitation to webcast – presentation of Q2 quarter and first half year 2025 financial results
Skudeneshavn, July 3, 2025
Solstad Maritime ASA (SOMA) welcomes to presentation of its Q2 2025 report, Monday, July 14th, at 09:00 am. The presentation will be held by CEO Lars Peder Solstad and CFO Kjetil Ramstad. It will be possible to ask questions online.
The report and the presentation will be released 07:00 am. Monday, July 14th, 2025, and made available on www.solstad-maritime.com and www.newsweb.no.
Trials of the Taxibot are gathering speed. This hybrid-electric, pilot-controlled ground tug aims to cut aircraft fuel burn and emissions during ground movements. Taxibot is part of HERON, a European initiative aimed at optimising aircraft operations that ends this year.
Airbus-led HERON is a European initiative aimed at improving the efficiency of aircraft operations, both in the air and on the ground. One area of study is the Taxibot, a pilot-controlled hybrid-electric tug. Trials at a handful of airports including Amsterdam Schiphol are gathering pace, though HERON itself will close by the end of 2025.
Lower CO2, NOx and noise emissions on the ground
HERON stands for Highly Efficient gReen OperatioNs. Part of the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Joint Undertaking, the project aims to demonstrate how aviation’s environmental footprint can be reduced through efficient ground operations and optimised air traffic management (ATM).
Project coordinator Airbus is one of 24 HERON partners across ten countries. Together they represent the full aviation ecosystem, including airlines, airports, air traffic control agencies and service providers.
Central to HERON’s ground operations study, the pilot controlled hybrid-electric Taxibot can pull a single-aisle aircraft between a remote stand and the runway without using the aircraft’s engines. The tug cuts unnecessary fuel burn, leading to a reduction in CO2 and NOx emissions as well as noise pollution.
The tug requires small modifications to the aircraft’s avionics bay. How does it work? Taxibot is clamped to the aircraft nose landing gear. The nose wheel is raised onto a pivotable platform, enabling the pilot to use the aircraft tiller and brake to steer. Taxibot’s driver only connects the tug to the aircraft and carries out pushback, before the pilot takes control. The engines then spool up just before takeoff.
Certified and ready for retrofit
The modifications are now certified and available to Airbus single-aisle customers in retrofit. Indeed, easyJet intends to conduct a trial later in 2025 at Schiphol airport.
Schiphol is an ideal candidate for hybrid tug operations, given the long distance between some of its six runways and the terminals. New York’s JFK airport is also trialling the tugs, along with New Delhi, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Brussels.
Towards fully electric Taxibots
Schiphol aims to become an emissions-free airport by 2030. Its own studies indicate that large-scale adoption of the Taxibot could lead to ground fuel savings of around 50%. For taxi legs to more distant runways, these savings could reach as much as 85%. Further, a fully electric tug is expected to be added to the Taxibot offering from 2026, and a widebody version is also under development.
Taxibot originated with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), who hold the trademark. In 2009, IAI partnered with TLD, a French manufacturer of airport ground support equipment, for production. The prototype was built in France in 2011.
Now that the Taxibot is in operation, efforts are underway to train more pilots to use it. Adjustments to airport infrastructure continue to more efficiently connect and remove the tugs. Finally, trials are ongoing to integrate the tugs into airport operations and better coordinate procedures between pilots, air traffic control and ground handling crews.
Becoming standard procedure
In the longer term, Airbus and its HERON partners will continue to push for Taxibot expansion, eventually making it the standard procedure for aircraft ground movements where advisable.
“Airports are actively pursuing solutions to reduce CO2 emissions from ground operations, which is in line with the broader initiatives of HERON,” notes Benjamin Tessier, HERON Coordinator and Vehicle Systems Architect at Airbus. Moreover, after three years spent developing the Taxibot kit for its single-aisle platforms, Airbus is now considering its adoption for the rest of its fleet.
The Taxibot is just one aspect of HERON, which concludes in December 2025. Other areas under development include air traffic control tools that support the use of ADS-C EPP (the standards for sharing trajectory data between aircraft and ATC) for future trajectory-based operations; single engine taxiing; and improved approach and runway operations to mitigate CO2 and noise emissions.
HERON’s 24 partners include coordinator Airbus, as well as Aéroports de Paris, Air France, Brussels Airport Company, easyJet, EUROCONTROL, Leonardo, Lufthansa and Schiphol airport among others.
