As the saying goes, “if you can’t fight them, join them”, Mazda has licensed the hybrid technology from Toyota.
Toyota will provide the technology to Mazda who has been its rival but under strict licensing terms. Mazda plans to roll out the hybrids by Jan 2013. Mazda has been out of the hybrid race and it has been noted that this was an attempt to “catch up to speed” with the rest of the market in the hybrid technology.
“I’m confident that this accord will be a step taken by both Toyota and Mazda toward providing good environmental technology and products for more customers,” said Toyota vice president Takeshi Uchiyamada. The automakers have been in talks over the supply of the hybrid technology system to Mazda since last year. Concerns from shareholders involved worries about Mazda’s strategic ties with Ford and the company reassured that the ties remain as strong as they were earlier.
Enivormentalists have already expressed their happiness but 2013 is a bit far.