Sep
13

Ford & Toyota to collaborate on new hybrid system

Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. recently announced the companies will collaborate on the development of a new advanced hybrid system for light trucks and SUVs.

Ford and Toyota signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the product development collaboration. A formal agreement is expected by next year, according to Ford.

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, according to Ford.

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.

Both companies have also agreed to collaborate on standards and technologies 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, according to Ford.

“Ford has made tremendous progress in the area of telematics,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of global product development at Ford. “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.”

Both companies have been working independently on their own future-generation rear-wheel drive hybrid systems. But collaboration between the two companies will allow them to bring new hybrid technologies to market sooner and more affordably than either company could have accomplished alone, according to Ford.

“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,” Kuzak said. “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.”

“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.,” said Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota. “By building a global, long-term relationship with Ford, our desire is to be able to continue to provide people in America with automobiles that exceed their expectations.”