In jest, I would hazard that the smartest thing for Ford to do is to swap plants with Toyota. The swap would be uneven since Ford has excess capacity. So for every 1.3 Ford plants in America, Toyota will swap 1 plant in Southeast Asia.

What does Toyota need? Better trucks, better styling, diesels, and more American factories, but they’re already en route to all of these.

What does Ford need? Money, a decent four-banger, a good B-seg vehicle (GM did have a Corolla platform at one point and squandered it…if Ford could get a Yaris platform and make it look good then they’re set), and perhaps some business-end stuff. Ford’s quality on their new cars is already top-notch, so I’d imagine they’ll be fine in about three or four years once their lineup refresh is complete.

Interesting to think about, though I really don’t think Toyota will bite.

Aisin is a Toyota supplier and obviously Ford has to pay Aisin for parts. The article (despite implying it in the title) never suggests that Ford does not have its own technology. Ford developed their technology seperately. Not all the components in an Escape are the same as in a Prius or Highlander, in fact many of them are different the programming is as well. It was rumored that Toyota was eyeing Ford’s programming because it is so good. When everything was developed, Ford realized that the differences were too similar to avoid potential legal problems, so they swapped some intellectual capital (and maybe a little money, not sure) but Toyota didn’t give them new technology or hold their hands or anything. Believe it or not, the hated motor company can actually develop technology for fuel-efficiency.

The fact that they used a Toyota supplier is not a crazy concept (they use Delphi often, which is very tied to GM), but Toyota’s relationship to their suppliers is much different than just the standard purchasing/supply relationship Ford and GM have with their suppliers. Toyota invests time and (a little) money making their biggest suppliers efficient and well aligned with the rest of the company, which makes the supplier more loyal to Toyota. Therefore, it is important for Ford to source components from other manufacturers, because if Toyota wants more supplies, the supplier will fall back on their loyalties. Ford would have to pay significantly more money to get the same parts (ie – the laws of supply and demand with a built-in inefficiency).

This means, of course, Ford will have to redesign some parts of its system and update a few components to keep the parts free of IP conflicts (I’m sure there is a cost-benefit analysis involved – sales, emissions regulations, losses, etc, but I’m sure it will point to becoming independent of Toyota’s whims). So, yes, they will have to change their hybrid system a little bit, but they’re already designing new tech for their GenII hybrids, so that might take care of it.

Back to the topic, this would be a great place for Toyota and Ford to collaborate. They are both dumping billions into it – they’d save a lot of money if they developed jointly.

Toyota controls suppliers as well…

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=107777

Tough being so smart and all…

As for Toyota, I don’t think they need anything from Ford. I guess Toyota will ask Ford to go to hell by itself.

Anyway….I think Ford is pathetic.

Ford shareholders should be demanding they shop a total buyout that would replace all of management and not a partnership. Keeping Ford management after what they have done to the company would be like fixing the Exxon Valdez and letting Joseph Hazelwood take the helm again.

How many people are driving around in Toyota trucks, especially serious construction workers in the South?

Smart move for Toyota..

This would be an interesting venture, and I’m not sure what the two companies would get from it. I know Ford’s R&D work in materials for various auto parts is significant and that its design studio has been producing some good stuff recently, but I’m not sure if that’s what Toyota’s looking for (or needs, really). They could be looking for further diesel collaboration or capacity renting of closed manufacturing plants? In exchange, Ford needs serious help with supplier relationships and a fix for its bloated unions. It could also use a good small car, but I know Ford has recently been working with Fiat on that.

An article suggested fuel cells, but Ford’s been doing a lot of work in that department – more than Toyota recently. It could be that Ford and Toyota would combine their billions and invest in even more innovative fuel systems that gain greater efficiencies. Both companies have done massive work in this area, but instead of beating each other up over it, it would be nice to see them collaborating.

It will be interesting to see what comes of this, if anything.

Most of Ford’s NADP automotive product is based on it’s Mazda relationship (1/3 ownership) and a pretty good plant run by Mazda in Flat Rock, MI.

Very weird situation, this.

They worked together on (well, Ford bought) hybrid tech, but where else would they meet up?
Does Toyota want to save face by beating Ford?
Do they want a full-sized pick-up a Texan will buy?

Ford will have their own vehicles and Toyota, too. Ford will get Toyota’s quality. Toyota to get Ford’s help in design. Like all of you said…. all toyota cars are too plain.

Anything to kill GM……