GM and Toyota deny reports of hybrid sharing
2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
Reports have been flying rampant over the last few days that General Motors and Toyota would be entering a joint agreement to share Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive technology through the two automaker's NUMMI joint venture. It appears the rumors began when Bloomberg ran a story quoting unnamed sources saying the Japanese automaker is considering producing the Prius at the plant it shares with GM in California.
Toyota denies that report as pure speculation, with Mike Goss, external affairs manager with Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, telling Green Car Advisor that it still plans to assemble the Prius at its unfinished plant in Mississippi at some point in the future.
General Motors also denies that it will license hybrid technology from Toyota. In a webchat session on GM's Fastlane Blog, Troy Clarke, President of GM North America, said of the rumors:
We are not in current discussions with Toyota on licensing their synergy drive. I would point out that we are working like crazy on our own hybrid technology. Also, we are really moving fast on the Volt of which you are well aware.At this point, there seems to be no real evidence that General Motors and Toyota will share hybrid technology. Plus, as we've pointed out before, the whole rumor in general makes little sense.
Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius
[Source: Green Car Advisor]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mike!!ekiM 6:35PM (6/19/2009)
It would be good for Toyota to take a long look at GM's solution. Can the Prius be better as a Serial Hybrid ( Plugin )?
GM's Volt tech in a GM Badge'ed Prius could be a real winner.
And, I know, don't hold your breath, GM should dust of those CAD-CAM tapes and take a look at a NEW Electric EV2.
There may be a surplus of oil on the market now, but, every barrel of oil is getting More Expensive to produce. There are fewer and fewer finds of big oil fields spaced out by more and more years. Even during the "Great Recession" China-India are Still Growing. Now is the time to address future Oil Shortages, Not After a Panic and Catastrophe.
Reply
Sean 10:58AM (6/20/2009)
But we're Americans. We don't do anything until there's a crisis. Always too busy.
Chris M 11:20PM (6/19/2009)
Well, the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive is certainly simpler and less expensive than the GM "dual mode" hybrid, though the "dual mode" does seem to be better suited for very large vehicles.
However, the "not invented here" syndrome strikes, and it is really doubtful that GM will use Toyota's design, or vice versa.
Reply
Marshall 7:56PM (6/22/2009)
The day has long since passed when Toyota needs any rusting GM technology.
Reply