Nope, but it's a common myth. Ford's system is competely indepently developed by Ford. They traded 2 patents with Toyota because they feel those areas were too similiar. However, Ford's hybrid system as a whole is different.

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@ Shawne:

Ford IS licensing the hybrid patents from Toyota. So yes, Ford is building the hybrids on license from Toyota.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Escape_Hybrid#Development

Ford is still buying and importing the Aisin (23% Toyota owned) transmissions from Japan.

Now Ford is limited to whatever Toyota/Aisin decides to sell them in transmissions.

Would any business owner put himself in that situation if he had any other choice?

Can you really claim to have developed your own 'hybrid system' without developing a transmission to make it work?

Kind of like AMD claiming to have a great new processor...built on license from Intel and oh yeah the user will need to buy a special Intel motherboard for it to work.

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the Fusion system is supposed to be all ford, no toyota patients or materials at all. it will go over to the escape as well next year. the battery is devolped in California.
tghe Fusion will debut in Washington next week with the milan coming in Chicago

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Max: you're wrong, check Google for "ford hybrid toyota patents" and read on

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Ford and Toyota BOTH license technology back and forth. Ford's hybrid system has some Toyota specs as well, Toyota Vehicles have Ford Specs. The Hybrid system IS NOT a complete license job. Just parts on both ends! So you could say there's a little bit of Ford in every Toyota and a little bit of Toyota and the Hybrid Fords.

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all car companies license specific parts from each other, the only difference is that some pay for their overlapping hybrid tech while others have to get their asses handed to them in court

Toyota Loses Bid to Overturn Hybrid Patent Verdict
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aS2X9oQ9QIng

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@Austin

Is the redesigned Fusion debuting at Washington?
Sorry if it is a dumb question but I have heard too many rumors at this point in time.

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Finance through a credit union. Navy Fed's at 5% for up to 6 years. 3.5% on 3 year loans.

Also, check Leasecompare.com.

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actually it does. it gives you that in an SUV. people in america love their suv's and trucks (both large and small). the escape hybrid gives you the storage and functionality of a small suv with better gas mileage than a lot of cars.

People dont understand that the current hybrid drivetrain is relatively large. which is why concealing the battery unit under the cargo area in the back makes putting it in an suv a lot easier than a small car.

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Bzzt. Wrong. Fail. Please cite your source.

Toyota/Lexus is the only one who has been phased out. Honda will be phased out 01/01/09.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157632,00.html

http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=176409,00.html

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bzzt. wrong. fail. YOU are misinformed. CITED from Detroit Free Press... article by Susan Tompor, today:
"The first 60,000 hybrids or lean-technology vehicles sold per manufacturer -- and that clock started ticking in 2006 -- qualify for the full credit.

The cap was part of the compromise lawmakers made to win support for the credit from Detroit automakers, which did not want to give an unlimited benefit to Toyota and Honda.

And, no surprise, Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. each have hit the 60,000 sales limit."
(continued)
"Once that 60,000 limit is hit, buyers gradually get a much smaller credit -- the credit is first cut in half and later cut into one quarter of the full amount of the tax credit. And down the road, the credit vanishes.

Toyota, Honda maxed out

This year, you're out of luck when it comes to tax credits if you plan to buy a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid, a 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid or a 2008 Toyota Prius.

Anyone who bought a hybrid from Toyota or Lexus after Sept. 30, 2007, will not be eligible for any tax credit.

"We maxxed out," said Martha Voss, a spokeswoman for Toyota Motor Sales USA in Washington, D.C.

"We would, however, like to see the government continue to take a leadership role supporting consumer interest in hybrids and other alternative-fuel vehicles," she said.

The Toyota Prius started out with a $3,150 tax credit if bought from Jan. 1, 2006, through Sept. 30, 2006. But that credit had fallen to $787.50 for purchases made April 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2007.

If you're looking at a Honda Civic CVT, you should know that the Honda hybrid tax credit for vehicles bought in 2008 also will be smaller than last year.

Honda's cumulative sales of qualified vehicles hit the 60,000 limit during the third quarter that ended Sept. 30.

So the credits for Honda are being phased out this year."

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yeah, too bad there was no tax break for NOT lending $400k to an unemployed 25 year old guy with no credit history!

but seriously, there is a limit to how much tax cuts can help the economy and they always come at the expense of other thing. its too late to prevent a recession now, its just a matter how long and how bad.

corporate earnings have been great over the past 7 years but disposable income is way down. companies are just now starting to feel the pinch that everyone has been feeling for years. job cuts will further worsen the situation. how deep is the hole we are in? no way to tell until we hit bottom.

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