The AP reported that Japan's top business daily, Nikkei, claimed Toyota and Mazda are in negotiations concerning a future partnership on hybrids. Toyota spokesman, Paul Nolasco said “there has been no decision on a policy to offer hybrid systems to Mazda”.
The Japanese daily Nikkei covered the story pointing that the two automakers are in the final steps of negotiating a tie-up in hybrids, a partnership that would implicate Toyota supplying the key components of its hybrids to Mazda. That would mean batteries, motor, and electronic parts.
According to the same Japanese source, that would allow Mazda to start marketing hybrids under its own brand beginning with 2013. The alleged annual target sales was estimated at around 100,000 vehicles.
Mazda has denied the storyby calling it “a reporter's speculation” and proceeded in revealing its plans for the future, concerning the improvement of current gasoline engines and working on its own green technology.
Rumors about Mazda looking for a partnership with another carmaker circulated in the media since Ford Motor Co. sold much of its 33.4 percent stake in Mazda last year. Ford still owns 13.8 percent of Mazda and still maintains some cooperative ties.
Japan's forth biggest carmaker, Mazda, is surely interested in a hybrid deal as green cars are gaining in popularity across the world because of government tax incentives and reduced fuel costs.
Update: Upon rumors of Toyota-Mazda tie-up, shares of Japanese car maker Toyota rose 2.9 percent to 3,570 yen. Mazda's shares rose 8.8 percent at 246 yen compared to Wednesday's 226 yen, but apparently they remained untraded.
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