Mazda And Toyota Cooperate To Develop Software And Hardware Systems For Cars

Mazda2 Hybrids are based from Toyota Yaris in Europe. (Doc. Mazda)

JAKARTA - Mazda and Toyota announced cooperation in developing software and hardware systems for cars. This collaboration aims to significantly reduce development and research costs.

The system to be developed includes not only the infotainment and driver's appearance, but a control unit and a series of cables.

Reported by Carscoops, Monday, January 15, it is possible that the Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) launched by Mazda starting in 2027 will have 90 percent of the systems identical to the vehicles in Toyota cars.

Software is one of the most expensive components in vehicles. Some automakers and spare parts suppliers invest up to $2 billion per year in developing this device.

Mazda said that with cooperation with Toyota, they would save hundreds of millions of dollars annually and even lower development costs by between 70 percent and 80 percent.

Toyota and Mazda have been working together for several years and in 2015, working together to share powertrain technology. Their partnership has grown stronger in recent years, one of which was presented by the European version of Mazda2, which took on a basis from Toyota Yaris.

Please note that Toyota holds a five percent stake in Mazda, and the two companies have worked closely with previous model and technology sharing, such as the Mazda3 Hybrid whose technology also comes from Toyota.