Toyota and Mazda have agreed a business alliance that will involve the two Japanese firms working together to develop new technology, including electric vehicles (EVs).
The agreement expands upon a technology partnership the companies signed in 2015. Under the new deal, each firm will take a share in the other worth ¥50 billion (£345 million). This gives Toyota a 5.05% stake in Mazda and Mazda a 0.25% share in Toyota.
The alliance will involve the two firms working together to “explore joint technologies” for the development of EVs, along with infotainment, connected car systems and advanced safety technology.
The firms could also supply each other with more badge-engineered models. Toyota currently sells a version of the Mazda 2 rebranded as the Toyota Yaris iA in North America, and under the new deal, Toyota will supply a box truck to Mazda for the Japanese market.
The two firms are also planning a joint venture to build a shared $1.6bn (£1.22bn) factory in the US with the capacity to produce 300,000 cars per year. A site for the plant, which will employ around 4000 people and is intended to be operational by 2021, has yet to be decided.
Toyota president Akio Toyoda said: “The greatest fruit of our partnership with Mazda is that we have found a new partner who truly loves cars.
"This is a partnership in which those who are passionate about cars will work together to make even better cars. It is also the realisation of our desire to never let cars become commodities.”
Read more
Toyota EV company launched to develop electric vehicles
Toyota electric Concept-I demonstrates artificial intelligence
Mazda to launch electrified cars from 2021
Toyota i-TRIL previews autonomous electric city car
Join the debate
Add your comment
Future merger?
a twist
Funny though, what goes around, comes around. The japanese, whith their mindset and actions of removing any wastes, continuos change, for the sake of change (they call improvement with no end) got to a no end: if it isn`t premium, why should people waste money in something brand new: hence Dacia is doing so well and premium brands never end sky rocketing sales.
People on a budget, buy no frills cars: Dacia, Kia, Skoda, among others. People that do not need to count all beans (or take that for a later timming), buy premium when new or premium when used (fleet cars, CPOs, ....)
As always, the midle shrinks, hence some brands find difficult to keep afloat: Subaru, Mazda, Suzuki, Fiat, Lancia, Vauxhall, Toyota ...
This same Toyota boasts desire to never let cars become commodities, but you have all your life done the comple opposite!! Your Lexus brand is the personification of it!
What is an LS next to a Rolls-Royce Ghost? Or next to a Mercedes-Maybach? is the white-man-van commodity
Better late than never
I sometimes wonder what EV Toyota would selling now if hadn’t pursued the failed concept Hydrogen Mirrai and gone down the route of Nissan, Renault etc.
They had so much knowledge of electric propulsion yet wasted that ‘headstart’, I understand it’s not going to be until 2020 before they’ve a ‘from the ground up practical’ EV in answer to the Leaf, Zoe or Bolt etc.
Did they not wonder what BMW were going to do with the Battery Tech that they gave them in exchange for Diesel tech. Good swap that was, NOT