The drive to reduce the dependency on non-renewable sources of energy has been the focus of most government agencies and private sectors in the global community. In the forefront of the battle to reduce the harmful emission of greenhouse gases is the automotive industry. Different car manufacturers are taking it upon themselves to develop new ways to decrease the emission of harmful gases by vehicles out in the roads of the world. There have been partnerships between car makers and companies in the alternative fuel industry too. And more recently, there are talks that Ford and Toyota will be joining forces to do battle against the global warming issue via the use of hybrid technology which will make their vehicles cleaner and safer for the environment.
Recently Kyodo News, a non-profit cooperative news agency based in Tokyo reported that the Chief Executive Officer of Ford Motor Company has shown strong interest in making their company's alliance with Toyota stronger. The news cited that the partnership might be in order to further develop the existing hybrid technology used by both car makers in their vehicles.
In connection with this, Ford CEO Allan Mulally said that a working agreement between the two companies in the development of alternative fuel powered vehicles will be beneficial to both parties. "I anticipate that the automobile manufacturers will increase their collaboration and their partnership on developing the enabling technology for even more fuel-efficient vehicles going forward. It is a kind of natural thing for us to do, to accelerate the development of the enabling technologies", Mulally said.
It can be remembered that Toyota has already hinted that they are open to the idea of working with other car manufacturers in the development of technologies that can be used on vehicles to decrease or even eliminate the greenhouse gases being emitted by these automobiles. In 2004, Toyota has already shown that they are looking for ways so as to help the environment more than competing with other car manufacturers. This is evident in the agreement between Ford and Toyota that allowed Ford to use Toyota's hybrid system technology patents. Instead of keeping it for themselves, they shared the technology that they were able to develop with Ford and this now helps in the popularity of environment friendly hybrid electric cars.
Both parties know that the development of technologies that will help reduce the dependency of vehicles on fossil fuel will cost them heavily. But both of them also knew that such is the price for the development of current technology especially if the result is beneficial to the entire human race. Toyota is currently working with another US based car maker, General Motors, but the working agreement does not include the development of fuel cell as alternative source of energy for vehicles. This is the direction that Ford wants to go since they have already proven themselves in the production of hybrid electric vehicles just like proved to be reliable in the long run.
It can also be remembered that last December, Toyota Chairman Fujio Cho had talks with Mulally. The move was seen to be the start of something new in the automotive industry. While Mulally had talks with the chairman of Toyota, he said that he has yet to meet with Cho but he has no specific plan yet. He added however that he is interested in having further talks with Toyota's leadership team.
While Ford is interested in working together with Toyota in the development of technologies that will make cleaner vehicles, they are not as interested in an alliance with Chrysler. When asked about that, Mulally was quoted to say, "I don't think so."