Alan Mulally wants more tech sharing with Toyota
Ford President and CEO Alan Mullaly was in Japan again, this time speaking to the media. During his time abroad, he talked about the desire to partner with Toyota even more closely on the development of new technologies. Ford has been licensing Toyota hybrid technology patents for years, currently employed in the Escape and Mariner hybrids. The costs involved in developing these alternative technologies is huge. Ford, thusly, is doing the prudent thing, seeking a partner for this expenditure. And Toyota is definitely a company to reckon with on the subject. Future projects would likely include additional hybrids and fuel cells, which have, to this point, been out of the picture. We reported about Mullaly meeting with Toyota Chairman Fujio Cho as soon as he landed the top job in Dearborn back in December 2006. So that's why he was in Japan, duh!
Mulally also made it clear that snuggling up to Toyota shouldn't be taken as a statement about their relationship with Mazda. It had been rumored that Ford might sell its share of Mazda to raise some cash, but Mulally confirmed that Ford is committed to its role as the top shareholder of Mazda, as announced last month.
[Source: TheAutoChannel via AutoblogGreen]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jackson 4:48PM (2/28/2007)
Here come the Ford haters...
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whofan 4:57PM (2/28/2007)
Ford should work closer with GM. The Ford vs.GM was yesterday.
Toyota only wants you to show them how to kick your ass.
Ford and GM sign a truce and work together to take back the American market.
Alan learn the Toyota PR machine, (Idon`t mean lying like they do, more like brainwashing like they do) and build the products to support it. You already have a better product with the Fusion.
Now you need more models with Fusion quality and their own unique styling.Don`t slap the 3 bar grill on everything.
For god sake build a brand name and stick to it.
Don`t forget to look accross the pond for inspiration. The American car line looks like an antique car show, compared to the European line up.
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akintz 4:57PM (2/28/2007)
Ford haters? Oh I think the Toyota-hating trolls are MUCH more prevalent.
This is a pretty smart move for Ford, obviously. They clearly don't have the $$ to start this kind of R&D on their own (from whatever level they currently are at).
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Alexander Drummond 5:01PM (2/28/2007)
I would just like to add something about the hybrid 'sharing': Ford developed their hybrid system in-house, and only parternered with Toyota to protect each other's intellectual assets.
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SSBR 5:01PM (2/28/2007)
Oh god no.. my advise to Toyota: KEEP FORD AWAY.
http://www.rolesor.com
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Tony 5:07PM (2/28/2007)
#6 stop making things up!
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Dark Leth 5:12PM (2/28/2007)
What do you mean, I'm lying?
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Craig N. Cote 5:23PM (2/28/2007)
I've owned Toyotas since the 70's and have put up with enough crap about buying Japanese to make me sick. If it's not OK for me to deal with Toyota than Ford ought to keep it's butt within US borders and do it on their own. Face it, Ford's on the way out, as is GM and Chrysler. You don't have to be a finance genious to see that. Look at the spread sheets, who's closing and who's opening factories, who's leading in new technology on their own. If big Mr. Roush in NASCAR claims Americans shouldn't buy Japanese cars and is declaring "war" with Toyota, (Toyota must be really scared) than he ought to stop these Ford idiots from going to kiss Toyota butt. How'd this Ford dude get to the airport? Maybe in a Mexican built Fusion!
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BenJammin 5:22PM (2/28/2007)
Actually, Alexander Drummond (post #6) is absolutely 100% correct. I get sick of reading quotes from uninformed journalists implying Ford just got the rights to copy the damn Prius system from Toyota. The Ford hybrid system was developed IN HOUSE, while some patents were liscensed from Toyota Toyota got just as much from Ford over the deal.
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BenJammin 5:56PM (2/28/2007)
Americans shouldn't buy Japanese cars. You can argue until you're blue in the face that the Fusion is Mexican made while the Camry is US made. In the end that is nothing but a joke, because Ford and GM employ FAR, FAR, FAR more Americans than Toyota ever will and both failing will impact our economy. Even more pathetic if the fact that the Fusion is MORE RELIABLE than the Accord and Camry. So much for Japanese quality. Enjoy your sludged up Toyotas!
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Craig N. Cote 5:38PM (2/28/2007)
That's another thing, why doesn't Ford go to Mazda for what they need? After all, preaching "Buy American" and then BUYING into a Japanese car company to the extent Ford has with Mazda-what a bunch of HYPOCRITS! After Ford totally decieved my WW2 era mother when she thought she was buying "American" and putting bread and butter on the tables of some Detroit area families when she bought her "Ford" (ya right) Festiva years ago, this sad excuse for an "American" company can fold as far as I'm concerned. NOWHERE in an evident spot on that car where she could see was the fact that she'd just bought herself a KIA, made in Korea, out of Korean parts! Ford, go kiss Mazda and Kia, but leave Toyota alone. You and your deception are a fatal disease! Ask my mother.
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Bob R. 5:43PM (2/28/2007)
Hey Craig, although the Camry sells more than the Fusion, many magazines and websites rate the "Mexican Fusion" higher in quality than the Camry and Accord. I don't understand why people care that the Fusion is made in Mexico. When MT reviewed the Fusion for the first time, when I read made in Mexico, I wondered why. But then MT said it was one of Fords highest quality plants, I understood right away why they would pick the Mexico plant. If Ford keeps building cars like the Fusion and the Edge, they will not be on their "way out."
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Tony 6:09PM (2/28/2007)
You guys are a joke, spreading "don't buy Japanese" hatred while surfing the WORLD WIDE WEB on your Japanese built computer.
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wally 6:14PM (2/28/2007)
There R no Americans left in this country!!!!!!!!!!! ONLY WANNABE'S
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Barney 6:31PM (2/28/2007)
GM had in the past used Toyota expertise as well. Perhaps Toyota will buy Mazda or a share to be in closer with Ford. For those who choose not to read the details of the artical, look like fools when ignoring the facts. "Ford has been licensing Toyota hybrid technology patents for years, currently employed in the Escape and Mariner hybrids. "
No where does it state that Ford is using their technology but being nice to Toyota by calling it theirs.
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Frank 6:42PM (2/28/2007)
14. You guys are a joke, spreading "don't buy Japanese" hatred while surfing the WORLD WIDE WEB on your Japanese built computer.
Posted at 6:09PM on Feb 28th 2007 by Tony
Umm, my computer was made in Taiwan but assembled in America. Is that ok?
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whofan 6:47PM (2/28/2007)
#6 is right Ford`s hybrid system is theirs.
The system Ford uses is similar in design to Toyota`s who had the patent.
Who gets the licencing fees on all the American inventions the Japanese make?
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Tony 6:55PM (2/28/2007)
#17 everything is all right just as long as your a lovin and not a hatin.
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Aprime 6:59PM (2/28/2007)
Japan doesn't manufacture computers.
Dang, what an idiot.
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Richard 7:28PM (2/28/2007)
Aprime wrote (No. 20) "Japan doesn't manufacture computers."
Who makes the Sony VAIO line of desktops and laptops? Oh, and what about those Toshibas?
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