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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Toyota United with BMW

Toyota Motor Corp. has a convention of self-reliance. President Akio Toyoda is starting to amendment that.

Toyoda agreed this month to equip a few Toyota vehicles with BMW AG diesel engines, development on an earlier deal to make use of Tesla Motors Inc. battery packs in long term electrical vehicles. Before the grandson of the founder turned into president, Toyota had not bought such core applied sciences from different carmakers, mentioned Shiori Hashimoto, a spokeswoman at the carmaker.

The alliances illustrate how Toyoda is shaking up decades-old practices at Japan's greatest manufacturer, that's poised to cede its three-year lead within the international automobile business to General Motors Co. As the company emerges from 3 years of problem management -- from thousands and thousands of cars recalled to coping with Japan's greatest postwar natural crisis -- Toyoda now faces the problem of recovering ground misplaced to GM and Hyundai Motor Co.

"They have a prime need for control, as a result of they would like a top stage of confidence things will be brought on time," said Jeff Liker, an engineering professor on the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor focusing on Toyota research. "When you move outdoor the family, there may be some risk. Akio is prepared to take that risk."

The world wide recalls in 2009 and 2010 created a chance to push adjustments in Toyota's company culture, Liker said. The CEO likely "came to the belief Toyota has grown too insular in Japan, that it had to open up more, get more get right of entry to to the outdoor world," he said.[via : Autonews]

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