According to Mazda, the hybrid system will be paired with its future line of SKY engines and will be packed into a new vehicle, whose sales are expected to begin in 2013.
The partnership comes just in time for Mazda, as the carmaker already stated its goal to increase the average fuel economy of Mazda vehicles sold globally by 30 percent by 2015, compared to its 2008 level. By cutting the R&D corners, Mazda may very well be on target to reach that goal.
Mazda says the increase in fuel economy will not only come from Toyota's hybrid drive, but also from its soon to be implemented Building Block Strategy: the enhancement of engines, transmissions, weight reduction and the introduction of fuel saving technologies: idling stop, regenerative braking and hybrid systems.
From Toyota's point of view, selling hybrid tech can only help the declining sales numbers caused by the infamous recall. Toyota will not only sell the hybrid drive to Mazda, but also announced it has opened the flood gates and will supply them to whoever needs them.
"TMC recognizes the importance of benefiting the environment by encouraging the popularization of its eco-friendly technologies, which are represented by its hybrid systems. Accordingly, TMC has announced that it will consider requests from other companies to supply hybrid technology," Toyota says in a release.
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