BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a mid-to-long-term collaboration to share environmentally-friendly powertrain technologies.
The MOU will see BMW enter a contract to supply Toyota’s European arm with 1,6 and 2,0-litre diesel powerplants from 2014, while on a global scale the two firms will colaborate on the development of next-generation lithium-ion battery technology and other eco-friendly technologies.
During the announcement, BMW AG’s chairman of the board of management Norbert Reithofer said that: “Toyota is the leading provider of environment-friendly series technology in the volume segment and the BMW Group is the most innovative and sustainable manufacturer of premium automobiles. We are now joining forces to further develop environment-friendly technologies and to expand our innovation leadership in each of our segments. 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.”
Representing TMC, President Akio Toyoda said: “It is a great joy and a thrill to enter into this mid-to-long-term collaborative relationship with BMW, a company with its own culture and history from its many years of car manufacturing in Europe, and a company that makes cars that are fun to drive. 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.”
