News from Japan this morning suggests Mazda is considering ties with Toyota in order to secure hybrid vehicle technology and parts.
The news comes just days after Mazda announced its split from long-standing automotive partner Ford with the Japanese manufacturer reportedly looking to Toyota to step in and provide crucial hybrid technology in order to remain relevant in the crucial US market and will follow Mazda’s i-Stop (stop-start) technology already slated for delivery next year.
The deal will reportedly provide Mazda with crucial hybrid drivetrain components such as electric motors and control systems for an unnamed hybrid that Mazda intends to bring to market in 2013.
In addition to sharing Toyota’s hybrid technology, Mazda is also readying more efficient powertrains in-house for 2011, as seen at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show.
With Yomiuri Shimbun
I wonder if this is the only thing the pair are sharing. With Toyota now looking at small sports cars, perhaps they could get advice from Mazda about the MX-5 and upcoming RX-7?
mazda gets the hybrid for mass sales and toyota gets rotaries for the small sports car area to improve appeal? :o Camrys with rotaries!
Hmm… the Hybrid space is definitely looking very hot at the moment. Toyota’s implementation seems to be winning a lot of support at the moment.
But I think this is just a supplier-consumer relationship. The two companies are not likely to share any more than this.
Thats real smart. make a hybrid to try and compete against the worlds largest producer with their own parts.
Mazda will buy Toyota’s basic hybrid tech and (most likely) make it more efficient….and much more desirable : )
How about Mazdas make their petrol cars more efficient first?!
Their current engines arent that bad Tomas, but if you want them to be more efficient i’ll remind you of some articles that have been posted on this very site:
The Sky-g and Sky-d engines
The Sky-drive auto trans
The i-stop system
Add all this to Toyota’s basic hybrid tech., which they will almost certainly improve, and Mazda will be beating Toyota in EVERY category of automotive engineering and design
You are certainly splitting hairs over fuel economy.
At least the Mazdas are a heck of a lot better to drive
Toyota would never use the rotary engine.
GM tried to tap into Toyota’s hybrid tech but were declined by the masters.
Toyota and Ford secured a swap of technology – Toyota hybrid tech for some of Ford’s DI.
Toyota supplies Nissan with hybrid technology as found in the US spec Ultima.
Now Mazda wants help.
GM, Ford, Nissan and Mazda all want Toyota’s help … what more do i need to say about Toyota’s hybrid know-how.
Well you forgot to mention Toyota stole it in the first place.
Remember the court process where Toyota used someone elses tech with out getting the right permission hence why they now have to pay penalties….
Hybrid is a bit of a W*nk anyway. Many small cars out there are now on par or achieving better consumption than those with the tech