Toyota Considers Becoming Powertrain Supplier To Industry

Long guarded about what was beneath the hood of its pioneering Prius cars, Toyota Motor Corp plans to open up its powertrain technology to rivals, hoping this will boost sales and speed up the industry's shift to lower-emission vehicles. Announcing last week it would expand its gasoline hybrid technology development, the world's largest automaker said it would consider selling complete powertrain modules - engines, transmissions and other drive components - to its competitors. The prospect of giving rivals access to "one-size-fits-all" powertrains comes as cars are increasingly dependent on computerized components, making it easier to design similar parts across model ranges. The industry has moved on from competing largely on mechanical engineering.
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TomM - 12/16/2016 12:27:41 PM

+3 Boost

While I can see cars from entry level brands using Toyota engines - I cannot see higher level cars doing so because car magazines will report that to the public. Still - why would a competitor want to have Toyota be able to publicize that their (Toyotas) drivetrain is - for instance - in a Volvo for how much MORE money?

MrEE - 12/16/2016 2:43:47 PM

+3 Boost

Toyota has supplied to Lotus for one, and you may see BMW using in the near future. Why wouldn't the legendary technology and reliability of Toyota hybrid drive trains.