Dearborn, Mich., Aug. 22, 2011 –
Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation – the world’s two
leading manufacturers of hybrid vehicles – today announced they will
equally collaborate on the development of an advanced new hybrid system
for light truck and SUV customers.
Ford and Toyota have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on
the product development collaboration, with the formal agreement
expected by next year.
Both companies have been working independently on their own
future-generation rear-wheel drive hybrid systems. The two now have
committed to collaborate as equal partners on a new hybrid system for
light trucks and SUVs. This new hybrid powertrain will bring the full
hybrid experience of greater fuel efficiency to a new group of truck and
SUV customers without compromising the capability they require in their
vehicles. Ford and Toyota believe that their collaboration will allow
them to bring these hybrid technologies to customers sooner and more
affordably than either company could have accomplished alone.
“This agreement brings together the capability of two global
leaders in hybrid vehicles and hybrid technology to develop a better
solution more quickly and affordably for our customers,” said Derrick
Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “Ford
achieved a breakthrough with the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and we intend to do
this again for a new group of truck and SUV buyers – customers we know
very well.”
Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota executive vice president, Research &
Development, said: “In 1997, we launched the first-generation Prius,
the world’s first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid. Since then, we
have sold about 3.3 million hybrid vehicles. We expect to create
exciting technologies that benefit society with Ford – and we can do so
through the experience the two companies have in hybrid technology.”
The two companies also agreed to work together on enablers to
complement each company’s existing telematics platform standards,
helping bring more Internet-based services and useful information to
consumers globally.
Under the MOU agreement, the two companies will bring the best of
their independently developed hybrid powertrain technology and knowledge
to a new co-developed hybrid system, which will be used in
rear-wheel-drive light trucks arriving later this decade. Specifically,
Ford and Toyota will:
- Jointly develop as equal partners a new rear-wheel drive hybrid system and component technology for light trucks and SUVs
- Independently integrate the new hybrid system in their future vehicles separately
For years, both Ford and Toyota have been working independently on
similar new rear-wheel-drive hybrid systems aimed at delivering higher
fuel economy in light trucks and SUVs. When the two companies began
discussing this potential collaboration, they discovered how quickly
they were able to find common ground.
“By working together, we will be able to serve our customers with
the very best affordable, advanced powertrains, delivering even better
fuel economy,” said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. “This is the
kind of collaborative effort that is required to address the big global
challenges of energy independence and environmental sustainability.”
Toyota President Akio Toyoda added: “Toyota is extremely proud to
join Ford in developing a hybrid system for pickup trucks and SUVs. Not
only is this tie-up clearly one aimed at making automobiles ever better,
it should also become an important building block for future mobility
in the U.S. By building a global, long-term relationship with Ford, our
desire is to be able to continue to provide people in America
automobiles that exceed their expectations.”
This rear-wheel-drive hybrid system will be based on an all-new
architecture to deliver the capability truck and SUV customers demand
while providing greater fuel economy.
While the rear-wheel-drive hybrid system will share significant
common technology and components, Ford and Toyota will individually
integrate the system into their own vehicles. Each company also will
determine the calibration and performance dynamics characteristics of
their respective light pickups and SUVs.
In addition, as telematics plays an increasingly more important
role in the in-car experience, both companies have agreed to collaborate
on standards and technologies needed to enable a safer, more secure and
more convenient in-car experience for next-generation telematics
systems. The telematics collaboration relates only to standards and
technologies, and each company will continue to separately develop their
own in-vehicle products and features.
“Ford has made tremendous progress in the area of telematics,”
Kuzak said. “We have unique and very good solutions today with SYNC and
MyFordTouch. Working together on in-vehicle standards can only enhance
our customers’ experience with their vehicles.”
Uchiyamada added: “Toyota has also invested heavily in
telematics in various countries around the world, with services like the
G-BOOK and G-Link. In the U.S., we have just introduced the accessible,
easy-to-use Entune. By sharing our know-how and experience, we would
like to offer even better telematics services in the future.”
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