http://toyotanewsroom.com/releases/ford+toyota+hybrid+trucks+suvs+telematics.htm

August 22, 2011

Ford, Toyota to Collaborate on Developing New Hybrid System for 

Light Trucks, SUVs; Future Telematics Standards

 Ford and Toyota are collaborating as equal partners to accelerate consumer availability 

of a new advanced hybrid system for light trucks and SUVs

 New co-developed hybrid system ready for use later this decade on Ford and Toyota 

rear-wheel-drive light trucks and SUVs, delivering greater fuel efficiency while still 

providing customers the capability they want and need

 Ford and Toyota also will collaborate on development of next-generation standards for 

in-car telematics and Internet-based services

Click here for Toyota Motor Corporation EVP Takeshi Uchiyamada's remarks

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-wheeldrive 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.”