Now that its ground offensive has taken control of the battlefield, word comes that Toyota's field commanders might have an eye toward the skies. That's right: Toyota is reportedly considering an offer from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to get into the aircraft business. MHI would like to see Toyota invest in a new passenger jet project, which, if it goes forward, would set up an aerial dogfight with the HondaJet, which is already in the segment. Mitsubishi already produces its own plane, the Regional Jet. Is this the beginning of a new battle for air supremacy? Hmmm. Somebody cue the Kenny Loggins.
UPDATE: Post erroneously referred to Fuji Heavy instead of Mitsubishi Heavy. The error has been corrected.
[Source: AFP/Breitbart]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MachinaDC5 @ Mar 6th 2008 3:15PM
I think Mitsubishi makes fighter jets that Japan owns. Now as for Saab...
The Other Bob @ Mar 6th 2008 5:03PM
And Mitsubishi made WW II zeros.
Temple @ Mar 6th 2008 3:58PM
Mitsubishi is a big supplier in the aerospace industry. They build the fuselage for the the Boing 777, and wings for the Boing 787 Dreamliner. They also build the main rocket for JAXA (Japan's NASA).
Mitsubishi is supposedly making the ATD-X stealth fighter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_ATD-X
This MRJ is more a competitor to Bombardier and Embraer's regional jets, and Toyota is only investing around 10% of the necessary funds to build it.
Alex @ Mar 6th 2008 3:59PM
Mitsubishi (like most Japanese companies) is involved in damn near everything, seafood and beer striaght through to lasers and chemicals.
LCN @ Mar 6th 2008 3:27PM
The Hondajet and the MRJ are in two completely different segments (The former seats 5-7 people , while the latter seats 70-80) so the dogfight will probably only be with Honda.
nagmashot @ Mar 6th 2008 3:45PM
Mercedes is already in the orbit... EADS
Takeo @ Mar 6th 2008 5:48PM
Uhh nagamshot:
Ever heard of
JAXA?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Aerospace_Exploration_Agency
I'm American myself but I find your Euro-ethnocentrism disgusting.
nagmashot @ Mar 7th 2008 1:25AM
who cares what you think?
If there would not be such stupid topics about the great Toyota goes airborn I would not need to replay... Toyota is not the first company that will/had or wants to build aircrafts..
BMW started as airplane engine producer
Saab builds fighter since ever
Mitsubishi made the Zerro one the most famous single seater ever
Mercedes owns 15% of EADS which build Airbus and europen space programs
So what is so special about Toyota to build airplanes? nothing!
8up1977 @ Apr 2nd 2008 11:34AM
Who cares what YOU think prick.
The fact is it is interesting that Toyota is getting into the Aviation game, especially since you see what implementation of TPS has done for Boeing's 737 line.
Joe @ Mar 6th 2008 3:48PM
I hope they get into building jets and lose their shirt. It's like as if they don't own enough. Greed can be harmful.
Dustin @ Mar 6th 2008 4:23PM
The article you linked to says nothing about Fuji Heavy Industries...
Tagg @ Mar 6th 2008 4:43PM
I don't know if Toyota needs to be a conglomerate seeing how their quality, especially at launch has continued to decline. There are so many things they could better use their capital for other than chasing Honda around.
Rob Thomas @ Mar 6th 2008 6:43PM
Well said sir
Tagg @ Mar 6th 2008 8:07PM
Thanks man
Tsunami Racer @ Mar 6th 2008 8:03PM
HondaJet. Born From Cars.
Evander O. @ Mar 7th 2008 1:51AM
Born from motorized bikes :D
Jose Mana @ Mar 6th 2008 11:10PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_TA-1
Toyota developed a small piston aircraft a few years ago...
superdart @ Mar 7th 2008 11:27AM
Don't forget Rolls-Royce and famed Merlin....
Or that Chrysler was building B-29 engines during WWII.
superdart @ Mar 7th 2008 11:27AM
Don't forget Rolls-Royce and the famed Merlin engines!!!!