Category: 3. Business

TOKYO, Japan, December 16, 2025 – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (“Honda”) today announced that it will make Astemo, Ltd. (“Astemo”), an affiliate company accounted for by the equity-method, a consolidated subsidiary of Honda, by acquiring an additional 21% of Astemo shares from Hitachi, Ltd. (“Hitachi”).

In January 2021, Astemo (formerly Hitachi Astemo) was formed through the management integration of four companies, namely Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd., and three Honda subsidiaries, Keihin Corporation, Showa Corporation and Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.

In October 2023, by welcoming JIC Capital, Ltd. (“JICC”, including JICC-01 Limited Partnership managed by JICC-01 G.K., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of JICC) as a new joint partner, the shareholding structure was changed to the current arrangements: 40% for Honda, 40% for Hitachi, and 20% for JICC. By leveraging its strong software development capabilities and accelerating investment in advanced technology areas, Astemo has been striving to achieve sustainable growth and solidify its position as a global mega supplier.

In the interim, the environment surrounding the automotive industry is constantly changing. In particular, it is expected that the industry will continue to see an accelerated shift toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs) — where the value of mobility products is defined more by software technologies that enhance the functionality of vehicles through autonomous driving and over-the-air updates, rather than primarily hardware technologies. In light of this trend, Honda will continue to enhance its SDV development capabilities and cost competitiveness with an even greater sense of urgency.

Astemo has strengths in both hardware and software technologies and will continue to be an important partner for Honda, and the growth of Astemo is indispensable for Honda to enhance its SDV development capabilities and cost competitiveness. In the face of the rapid and intense changes in the automotive business environment, as a parent company, it is essential for Honda to lead the transformation of Astemo so that Astemo can pursue the establishment of a business structure that enables high-speed, high-efficiency development of AI and software technologies, which will become increasingly necessary in the era of SDVs.

Based on this belief, Honda, Hitachi and JICC have agreed that Honda will acquire additional shares of Astemo, equivalent to 21% of all outstanding shares, from Hitachi, thereby changing the shareholding structure to 61% for Honda, 19% for Hitachi, and 20% for JICC.

This share acquisition is scheduled to be executed during the first quarter of the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2026, following the necessary clearances and approvals required under relevant competition laws and other applicable laws and regulations.

As a parent company, Honda will lead the growth of Astemo as a global supplier, while maintaining the consideration of an IPO. 

The Government has announced the new members of the Creative Industries Council as part of its commitment to reshaping the body to align with national growth objectives and ensure it more accurately reflects the sector.

Established in 2011, the Creative Industries Council (CIC) serves as a strategic forum for collaboration between industry leaders and government. It provides a unified platform for senior figures across the creative sectors to engage directly with ministers, ensuring a coordinated voice on key issues.

The new membership brings together cultural institutions, trade bodies, creative businesses, regional leaders and sector representatives from across the UK’s creative industries, representing sectors and subsectors, such as film & TV, music and design. The Sector Plan’s themes of innovation, finance, skills and trade will underpin the work of the Creative Industries Council, and are priorities for the next year of activity.

Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, said:

The Creative Industries Council is vital to ensuring that we are effectively understanding and addressing the needs of the sector. Our ambition is that every corner of this country will flourish, cementing the UK’s position as a creative superpower. 

We are committed to delivering the Creative Industries Sector Plan, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change, and the remodelled CIC will continue to play a critical role in that.

Co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council, Peter Bazalgette, said:

Our renewed Council, with refreshed representation from across our sub-sectors, regions and Nations, will drive forward the clear growth plan set out in the Government’s Industrial Strategy. And we’ll have lots of new ideas too… we are the creative sector!

Co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council, Shriti Vadera, said:

The refreshed and representative CIC will support not just delivery of the growth plan and the development of new policy, but also ensure we demonstrate to policy makers and the public the UK’s global strength in creative industries and their critical importance to the success of the UK economy.

In the Creative Industries Sector Plan, published as part of the Industrial Strategy, the Government committed to reshaping the council, as part of the Government’s plan to strengthen its relationship with businesses. The Sector Plan outlines a vision to increase business investment in creative organisations from £17 billion to £31 billion by 2035 and  help creative businesses grow and create jobs. 

The creative industries are rapidly changing and growing, and the new council format seeks to be more representative of the sectors as they are now, while strengthening the partnership it has with industry. This includes prioritising regional representation and addressing the concerns and challenges of the sector within the UK as well as growing exports as the third largest creative services exporter in the world.

The Department for Business and Trade has also appointed the new Creative Industries Trade & Investment Board (CITIB) chairs, Michael Frohlich, CMOP at WPP, and Francesca Hegyi, Chief Executive of Edinburgh International Festival. They will work together to facilitate collaboration between the public and private sectors and ensure the creative industries contribute effectively to the UK economy. 

Minister for Trade Policy Chris Bryant said:

Our creative industries are world-leading, and we’re championing them as a cornerstone of growth in our modern Industrial Strategy.

A revamped Creative Industries Trade and Investment Board will help strengthen our international trading relationships, boost exports and attract inward investment to grow our economy. Congratulations to Francesca and Michael on becoming our new Co-Chairs – their experience and passion will be invaluable.

Working group leads will sit on a core steering group who will strategically drive the CIC’s progress, prioritise practical action and help to shape the sector-wide narrative.

ENDS

New membership of the Creative Industries Council

Co-Chairs

• Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy
• Business Secretary, Peter Kyle
• Baroness Shriti Vadera
• Sir Peter Bazalgette

Working group leads

• Stephen Pegge OBE, Director UK Business Angels Association (Access to Finance)
• Sinead Rocks, Managing Director of Nations & Regions, Channel 4 (Workforce)
• Sara Pepper, Co-Director, Creative Economy Unit at Cardiff University (Innovation)
• Michael Frohlich, CMOP at WPP (Co-Chair of the CITIB)
• Francesca Hegyi, Chief Executive of Edinburgh International Festival (Co-Chair of the CITIB)

Members

• Creative Industries Minister, Ian Murray
• Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair of Innovate UK 
• Deborah Annetts, Chair, Creators Rights Alliance
• Hasan Bakhshi, Director, Creative Industries Policy and Evidence centre
• Jade Beason, CEO of the Creator Project
• Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
• Lee Brooks, Production Park
• Prof. John Collomosse, Principle Scientist, Adobe
• Dan Conway, CEO, Publishers Association
• Jon Gilchrist, Chief Executive, Birmingham Hippodrome
• Dan Guthrie, Director General of Alliance for IP
• Sophie Helm, Co-Founder of Manchester Contemporary and Manchester Art Fair
• Darren Henley, CEO, Arts Council England
• Tom Kiehl, CEO, UK Music
• Alison Lomax, Managing Director, YouTube
• Deepa Mann-Kler, CEO, NEON
• John McVay, CEO, PACT
• Natalie Melton, Executive Director, Craft Council
• Keith Merrin, Deputy Chair, National Museums Directors Council and Director North East Museums
• Minnie Moll, CEO, Design Council
• Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland
• Caroline Norbury, CEO, Creative UK
• Paula Orrell, Director, CVAN
• Nick Poole, CEO, UKIE
• Catryn Ramasut, Director of Arts, Arts Council of Wales
• Rhuanedd Richards, Interim Nations Director, BBC
• Ben Roberts, CEO, BFI
• Mick Ross, CEO, Generator
• Christopher Smith, Executive Chair, AHRC 
• Chloe Straw, CEO, AudioUK
• Alison Tickell, CEO, Julie’s Bicycle
• Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick, CEO, RIBA
• Chris Van Der Kuyl, CEO, 4J Studios
• Claire Walker / Hannah Essex, Co-Chief Executives, SOLT/UKT
• Laura Weir, CEO, British Fashion Council
• Richard Williams, CEO, NI Screen
• Stephen Woodford, CEO, Advertising Association
• Freelance Champion, to be appointed

The new CIC will establish working groups, with leads sitting on the council, who will develop and take forward proposals in areas of key strategic importance to drive growth across the Creative Industries, as detailed in the Creative Industries Sector Plan:

Innovation: Accelerate Innovation-led growth

Access to Finance: Secure growth finance for creative start-ups and scale-ups

Workforce: Build a resilient workforce fit for the future 

Trade and exports: Via the Creative Industries Trade & Investment Board: Increase trade and inward investment

Euro area

The first estimates of euro area balance showed a €18.4 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in October 2025, compared with + €7.1 bn in October 2024.

The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world in October 2025 were €258.0 bn, an increase of 1.0% compared with October 2024 (€255.5 bn).

Imports from the rest of the world stood at €239.6 bn, a fall of 3.6% compared with October 2024 (€248.4 bn).

In October 2025, the euro area balance remained stable compared to September 2025, with the overall surplus remaining at €18.4 bn. Although the surplus of chemicals and related products decreased from €28.5 bn in September 2025 to €18.4 bn in October 2025, improvements in other sectors helped maintain the overall balance.

Compared to October 2024, the euro area balance increased by €11.3 bn. This positive change was primarily driven by significant improvements in the energy sector, where the deficit decreased from €-24.7 billion in October 2024 to €-17.0 bn in October 2025.

In January to October 2025, the euro area recorded a surplus of €144.6 bn, compared with €141.4 bn in January-October 2024.

The euro area exports of goods to the rest of the world rose to €2 462.7 bn (an increase of 2.9% compared with January-October 2024), and imports rose to €2 318.1 bn (an increase of 3.0% compared with January-October 2024).

Intra-euro area trade rose to €2 199.0 bn in January-October 2025, up by 1.6% compared with January-October 2024.

Euro area trade – non seasonally adjusted data (bn €)
Flows	Oct 24	Oct 25	Growth	Jan-Oct 24	Jan-Oct 25	Growth
255.5	258.0	1.0%	2 392.6	2 462.7	2.9%
248.4	239.6	-3.6%	2 251.2	2 318.1	3.0%
7.1	18.4		141.4	144.6
234.3	234.0	-0.1%	2 163.8	2 199.0	1.6%

European Union

The EU balance showed a €14.7 bn surplus in trade in goods with the rest of the world in October 2025, compared with +€3.1 bn in October 2024.

The extra-EU exports of goods in October 2025 were €227.5 billion, down by 0.6% compared with October 2024 (€228.9 bn).

Imports from the rest of the world stood at €212.8 bn, down by 5.8% compared with October 2024 (€225.8 bn).

In October 2025, the EU balance showed a decline compared to September 2025, with the overall surplus decreasing from €15.4 bn to €14.7 bn. This change was primarily driven by a reduction in the chemicals and related products surplus, which fell from €26.5 bn in September 2025 to €16.4 bn in October 2025. However, the decline in the overall balance was partially mitigated by reductions in the deficits for both energy (from €-23.2 bn to €-19.9 bn) and other manufactured goods (from €-5.0 bn to €-0.5 bn).

Compared to October 2024, the EU balance improved by €11.6 bn. This positive change was largely attributed to the reduction in deficit for energy products, which decreased from €-28.7 bn in October 2024 to €-19.9 bn in October 2025, and other manufactured goods, which decreased from €-4.4 to €-0.5.

In January to October 2025, the EU recorded a surplus of €116.7 bn, compared with €116.3 bn in January-October 2024.

The extra-EU exports of goods rose to €2 215.3 bn (an increase of 2.6% compared with January-October 2024), and imports rose to €2 098.6 bn (an increase of 2.8% compared with January-October 2024).

Intra-EU trade rose to €3 465.6 bn in January-October 2025, +2.3% compared with January-October 2024.

EU trade – non seasonally adjusted data (bn €)
Flows	Oct 24	Oct 25	Growth	Jan-Oct 24	Jan-Oct 25	Growth
228.9	227.5	-0.6%	2 158.5	2 215.3	2.6%
225.8	212.8	-5.8%	2 042.2	2 098.6	2.8%
3.1	14.7		116.3	116.7
368.8	374.9	1.6%	3 387.6	3 465.6	2.3%

Main products – EU Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year
	Extra-EU exports		Extra-EU imports		Trade balance
	Oct 25	Growth rates	Oct 25	Growth rates	Oct 25	Oct 24
227.5	-0.6%	212.8	-5.8%	14.7	3.1
35.2	-0.3%	52.0	-16.6%	-16.8	-27.1
19.8	0.9%	15.0	-1.1%	4.8	4.5
6.1	1.8%	7.9	-11.1%	-1.8	-2.9
9.3	-4.0%	29.2	-24.0%	-19.9	-28.7
186.4	-1.8%	157.1	-2.1%	29.3	29.4
46.2	-7.7%	29.8	-4.9%	16.4	18.7
90.4	1.5%	76.9	4.2%	13.5	15.2
49.9	-1.8%	50.4	-8.8%	-0.5	-4.4
5.9	57.9%	3.6	21.7%	2.3	0.7

Main trading partners – EU Bn €, monthly change compared to previous year
	Extra-EU exports		Extra-EU imports		Trade balance
	Oct 25	Growth rates	Oct 25	Growth rates	Oct 25	Oct 24
40.7	-14.7%	29.5	4.4%	11.2	19.5
16.7	-3.3%	49.2	-4.4%	-32.5	-34.1
30.5	-3.0%	13.2	-10.0%	17.3	16.7
20.0	16.5%	13.8	-7.7%	6.2	2.3
9.8	-3.2%	9.3	0.5%	0.5	0.9
6.0	6.1%	7.2	-13.6%	-1.2	-2.6
5.7	-7.8%	5.6	4.5%	0.1	0.8
4.4	4.2%	6.1	-14.8%	-1.7	-3.0
4.5	-5.3%	5.7	-8.9%	-1.2	-1.5
4.9	8.7%	2.8	9.6%	2.1	2.0

Annex – Seasonally adjusted data

In October 2025 compared with September 2025, euro area seasonally adjusted exports decreased by 4.6%, while imports decreased by 3.3%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €14.0 bn, a fall compared with September (€18.0 bn).

In October 2025 compared with September 2025, EU seasonally adjusted exports decreased by 5.6%, while imports decreased by 4.3%. The seasonally adjusted balance was €11.8 bn, a fall compared with September (€15.1 bn).

In August-October 2025, euro area exports to non-EA countries rose by 0.1%, while imports fell by 2.2%. Intra euro area trade rose by 0.4%. During the same period, EU exports to non-EU countries decreased by 0.6%, while imports fell by 2.9%. Intra-EU trade increased by 0.7%.

EA and EU trade – seasonally adjusted data – (bn €)
	Sep 25	Oct 25	growth rates	Aug-Oct 25	Growth rates (compared to the previous three months)
247.8	236.3	-4.6%	721.2	0.1%
229.8	222.3	-3.3%	679.1	-2.2%
18.0	14.0		42.2
221.5	218.3	-1.5%	658.9	0.4%
221.7	209.4	-5.6%	643.2	-0.6%
206.6	197.6	-4.3%	609.4	-2.9%
15.1	11.8		33.8
349.7	345.4	-1.2%	1 039.9	0.7%

Notes for users

Revisions and timetable

This News Release is based on information transmitted by Member States to Eurostat before 11 Dec 2025 figures are provisional. For more details, see information on data.

Methods and definitions

Statistics on trade in goods are transmitted monthly by the Member States, in accordance with the standard set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197. For each reference month, Member States must compile statistics covering their total extra- and intra-EU trade by using estimates, where necessary. These data are available within 40 days after the end of the reference month, enabling euro area and EU aggregates to be disseminated within around 46 days.

Member States provide Eurostat with raw data, which are adjusted for calendar and seasonal effects by Eurostat. The European aggregates are computed with the indirect approach (by Member States) for total imports and exports, which guarantees additivity between the aggregate and its respective components. The estimation of seasonally adjusted data is based on the Tramo-Seats procedure, which is available in the software JDemetra+.

Data are broken down by broad categories of products as defined by the one-digit codes of the Standard international trade classification (SITC).

Geographical information

The euro area (EA20) includes Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.

The European Union (EU27) includes Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.

For more information

In 2025, 32.7% of people aged 16-74 in the EU used generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Most people used them for personal purposes (25.1%), while 15.1% used them for work and 9.4% for formal education.

This information comes from data on the use of ICT in households and by individuals published by Eurostat today. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article on digital economy and society statistics – households and individuals.

Among EU countries, the use of generative AI tools was most widespread in Denmark (48.4%), Estonia (46.6%) and Malta (46.5%).

In contrast, the lowest shares of people using generative AI tools were recorded in Romania (17.8%), Italy (19.9%) and Bulgaria (22.5%).

Source dataset: isoc_ai_iaiu