Toyota announced at CES that it will grant royalty-free use of all 5680 of its solely owned fuel-cell patents, including those pending from development of the first hydrogen fuel-cell production vehicle, the Toyota Mirai.
Mike Sweers, Chief Engineer of the Toyota Tacoma and Tundra, spoke with Automotive Engineering at a recent Tacoma launch event about its development program and truck trends in general.
Toyota's hybrid "set the global benchmark for hybrids, but now is breaking its own boundaries with more engaging style and fun-to-drive dynamics,” said Bill Fay, Group Vice President and General Manager, Toyota.
The $1 billion venture, funded for five years, will focus on autonomous vehicle technologies, artificial intelligence, materials science, robotics, and more.
The crossover concept is an important vehicle for Toyota, demonstrating the Japanese automaker's desire for more "engaging" design—a key attribute particularly in the highly competitive European C-segment market.
Focused on the near-term safety-improvement potential underlying autonomous-driving technology, Toyota - counter to much of the auto industry - sees real promise in developing SAE Level 2-3 systems.
Technology transfer and collaboration continue to grow globally among mobility engineering professionals focused on aerospace and automotive applications. Cross-industry partnerships received a boost this week, as Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Toyota Motor Corp. officials announced increased cooperation on unmanned, electrified, and automated rovers for space exploration.