We knew it was coming and while a ways off, it is a start. Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Sept. 28, 2017 Earlier today Mazda, Denso, and Toyota signed a contract today to jointly develop basic structural technologies for pure electric vehicles. The three companies have also decided to establish a new company consisting of selected engineers from the three to ensure the efficient implementation of the joint technological development projects. As countries and regions around the world adopt increasingly stringent policies to help reduce greenhouse gases, new regulations that mandate a certain proportion of electric vehicle sales are beginning to emerge. Complying with these environmental regulations, while ensuring the sustainable growth of our companies, requires the development of a wide range of powertrains and technologies. We regard battery electric vehicles (BEVs) as a key technological field in this process alongside fuel cell vehicles. With BEVs yet to find widespread market acceptance, 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 around the world. Mazda, Denso, and Toyota have decided to jointly develop basic structural technologies for BEVs capable of covering a wide variety of vehicle segments and types to ensure flexible and rapid response to market trends. This agreement covers a diverse range of models, from micro 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: Research into the characteristics (common architecture*) that define optimum performance and functions of BEVs from the standpoint of both individual components and the whole vehicle Verification of component installation and vehicle performance realized by the characteristics achieved in item 1) 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 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 BEVs. The companies also aim to create a business structure that is open to participation by other automakers and suppliers. Common architecture is the basic product design concept for realizing required product performance by distributing those requirements among structural components. Under the concept of a common architecture, the basic structure of each component can be commonized, thereby transcending differences in vehicle class and power. By organizing component characteristics, various products can be developed and produced through the same process. New Company: EV C.A. Spirit Co., Ltd. Location: Nakamura, Nagoya Capital: 10 million yen (equity participation = Toyota: 90%, Mazda: 5%, Denso: 5%) President: Shigeki Terashi Director: Kiyotaka Ise and Toshiyuki Mizushima Auditor: Tatsuro Ueda Employees: 40 Website: EV-CAS (live in mid-October)
Seems they are actually looking to break out beyond compliance vehicles now, and actually try to make an actual per-car profit.
