Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) and Toyota Motor Corp. has been jointly working in a couple of fields since a while and to further strengthen their collaboration both the companies have signed a new agreement. To this day the collaboration has been focusing on eco-friendly technology (electric car batteries) and diesel engines and the new agreement will include four new areas: fuel cell system, architecture and components for a future sports vehicle, powertrain electrification and research and development on lightweight technologies.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, at BMW Group headquarters in Munich.
image – BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid
Reithofer said:
“We aim to further strengthen our competitive position in sustainable future technologies. We signed an MoU to this effect today. Toyota and the BMW Group share the same strategic vision of sustainable individual future mobility. Together we have a great opportunity to continue leading our industry through this transformation.”
Toyoda added:
“BMW and Toyota both want to make ever-better cars. We respect each other. And I think this is shown by our taking the next step only six months since the signing of our initial agreement. Toyota is strong in environment-friendly hybrids and fuel cells. On the other hand, I believe BMW’s strength is in developing sports cars. I am excited to think of the cars that will result from this relationship.”
In March 2012, BMW and Toyota signed a binding agreement under which Toyota along with the German is pursuing collaborative research in the field of next generation lithium-ion battery cells ,while BMW Group agreed to supply high-efficient 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre diesel engines to Toyota Motor Europe starting in 2014.
Previously BMW has tried striking an agreement with General Motors to access latter’s hydrogen fuel cell technology but it failed. It also attempted to make hybrid car components in collaboration with French major PSA Peugeot Citroen but this plan also came to halt as the French duo joined hands with Opel to save costs in the European market.
We will keep you posted on the latest developments, stay tuned to Car Blog India.
