Nissan Motor Co. said it will set up a joint venture with a Japanese trading house for recycling of electric car batteries. Nissan said Tuesday the joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation is expected to begin operations in late 2010 in Japan and the United States. The companies have yet to finalize details including the capitalization of the venture. The launch is in line with a potential surge in demand for electric vehicles powered by batteries.

Researchers at Nissan have been studying how quickly and how closely individual fish can swim together without bumping into each other. Last week, at a technology show outside Tokyo, the carmaker unveiled a group of little robots that mimic fish, using hi-tech wizardry that could end up in future vehicles.

“Even good suppliers are being viewed skeptically by and large because they’re associated with the automotive industry. And the industry as a whole is in fairly difficult shape.” DeKoker has tracked about 50 parts supplier bankruptcies so far – nowhere near the fallout he would’ve predicted in this economy. He chalks that up to companies “hibernating” – slowing production in hopes of lasting until business can pick up again.