Mazda and Toyota seal deal to share tech

Mazda and Toyota have concluded secret negotiations and announced that both companies will enter into a technical partnership.

In a deal that’s been designed to drive down costs associated with R&D, Toyota is understood to have agreed to share its new fuel cell and plug-in hybrid tech in return for Mazda’s efficient petrol and diesel SKYACTIV engines.

The deal could see Mazda release a re-skinned version of the Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell sedan in less than two years.

The collaboration came about from the two car-makers already sharing costs on the recent Mazda2 supermini that will soon be re-bodied and sold as the Scion iA in some markets.

The next-generation Toyota Yaris will also be Mazda-2-based and even made for North American markets at Hiroshima’s new facility in Mexico.

Announcing the deal to the Japanese media Toyota president, Akio Toyoda, said: "We are excited to be working with Mazda. This partnership is based on a shared vision and mutual respect.

"We’ll respect each other's people, technologies and cultures. We will lead each other towards a better future”, said Toyoda.

Mazda’s boss Masamichi Kogai, meanwhile added: "I am certain that it will also enable us to offer our customers greater value.”

It’s not just Mazda Toyota has forged a working relationship with. The Japanese car-maker has a similar deal in place to share the costs of development with BMW to make a successor to the current Z4 that will also spin-off the long-awaited replacement for the Toyota Supra.