Mazda, Denso and Toyota have signed a contract to jointly develop basic structural technologies for EVs. The three companies have also decided to establish a new company consisting of selected engineers from each company to ensure the efficient implementation of the new projects.

The companies say that the huge investments and time required to cover all markets and vehicle segments is a pressing issue for individual automakers when responding to the widely varying demand for vehicles. And the goal of the collaboration is to ensure flexible and rapid response to new market trends.

The agreement covers a diverse range of models, from minivehicles to passenger vehicles, SUVs, and light trucks, and aims to innovate the development process by combining the strengths of each company, including Mazda’s bundled product planning and prowess in computer modeling-based development, Denso’s electronics technologies, and the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.

The new company will engage in the following:

1. Research into the characteristics (common architecture) that define optimum performance and functions of EVs from the standpoint of both individual components and the whole vehicle
2. Verification of component installation and vehicle performance realized by the characteristics achieved in item 1
3. Examination of the optimum concept for each car classification with regard to each component and each type of vehicle realized by achieving items 1 and 2

Through this joint technological development project, by dedicating an equal amount of development resources, ensuring efficient development processes, and taking advantage of existing production facilities, Mazda and Toyota intend to focus their resources on fundamental vehicle values to enable the creation of appealing EVs that embody the unique identities of each brand and avoid the commoditization of EVs.

The companies also aim to create a business structure that is open to participation by other automakers and suppliers.

Source: Toyota