Skip to main content

BMW and Toyota agree mid- to long-term research collaboration

BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning a mid- to long-term collaboration on next-generation environment-friendly technologies.
March 26, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
1731 BMW Group and 1686 Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning a mid- to long-term collaboration on next-generation environment-friendly technologies. Under the partnership, the two companies agreed on a collaborative research in the field of next-generation lithium-ion battery technologies and have agreed to identify and discuss other possible collaborative projects.

In addition, Toyota Motor Europe (TME), TMC’s European subsidiary, and BMW have entered into a contract under which BMW is to supply 1.6 litre and 2.0 litre diesel engines to TME starting in 2014. The engines will be installed in certain Toyota-produced vehicles planned for sale in the European market. Through this agreement, Toyota plans to expand its European lineup and sales of fuel-efficient, low CO2-emission diesel-powered vehicles.

“We are now joining forces to further develop environment-friendly technologies and to expand our innovation leadership in each of our segments," said Norbert Reithofer, chairman of BMW’s board of management. “Supplying Toyota with our fuel efficient and dynamic diesel engines represents another important step in the planned expansion of our sales activities for engines and powertrain systems.”

“In the spirit of contributing to furthering the development of the auto industry and society, both companies will bring their wide-ranging knowledge - starting with that concerning environmental technologies - to the table and make ever-better cars,” said TMC, President Akio Toyoda, TMC president.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Battery vehicle ‘now viable for very long distances’
    June 23, 2016
    The Tesla 3 gets nearly double the range of the Nissan Leaf by using nearly double the amount of battery but engineers are using a multitude of work rounds to do better: aerodynamics, light-weighting even including structural electronics where dumb structure is replaced by supercapacitors or solid state batteries. Add more efficient motors and powertrain, says Dr Peter Harrop, chairman of IDTechEx Research in its report Industrial and Commercial Electric Vehicles on Land 2016-2026. He goes on to say that
  • Montreal to become city of electro-mobility
    November 25, 2013
    Volvo Group's North American subsidiary, Nova Bus, and Canada’s Societe de Transport de Montreal (STM), are to partner on an electrification project for the public transit system of Montreal. A memorandum of understanding signed by both companies includes the testing of three Nova LFSe electric buses and two charging stations in Montreal. The goal is to have the noiseless and emission-free buses operational for demonstration in the third quarter of 2015 and in regular traffic for three years, beginning
  • ITS World Congress Hall of Fame winners
    September 8, 2016
    The ITS World Congress 2016 Hall of Fame winners have been announced and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 23rd ITS World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, 10-14 October, Melbourne, Australia. The Awards recognise individuals, industries and local governments striving to set the bar higher and enhance the end user experience. Local solutions often have wider applications, ensuring international transport, safety and technology improvements, enhancing liveability in cities and communitie
  • After two decades of research, ITS is getting into its stride
    June 4, 2015
    Colin Sowman gets the global view on how ITS has shaped the way we travel today and what will shape the way we travel tomorrow. Over the past two decades the scope and spread of intelligent transport systems has grown and diversified to encompass all modes of travel while at the same time integrating and consolidating. Two decades ago the idea of detecting cyclists or pedestrians may have been considered impossible and why would you want to do that anyway? Today cyclists can account for a significant propor