Toyota seals deal with Suzuki on business partnership

Toyota President, Akio Toyoda (left) with Suzuki Chairman, Osamu Suzuki, during the announcement of the partnership last October

 

The coast is now clear for the business partnership between Toyota Motor Corporation and Suzuki Motor Corporation to take off as the two Japanese auto companies, Monday, sealed the final deal on the partnership . Recall that at a media briefing last October, the two companies announced their desire to work together with the aim to jointly contribute to what they described as resolution of social issues and achievement of sound and sustainable development of an automobile-based society.

Since then, the companies, have shared with each other their challenges and have been discussing areas of collaboration in a manner that ensures fair and free competition. The companies therefore on Monday agreed to begin concrete examinations toward the realisation of the business partnership in areas including environmental technologies, safety technologies, information technologies, and mutual supply of products and components.

Agreeing to work toward the early realisation of the new deal, the two companies resolved to immediately establish an implementation framework aimed at bringing to realization the points agreed on Monday.

Commenting on the latest development, Toyota President, Akio Toyoda, said: “The words of Chairman Osamu Suzuki at our joint press conference in October last year―’If you are running a company, you have to continue to take on challenges. You are running your company for the benefit of society, and this remains unchanged.’―deeply resonated within me. This, I felt, was indeed the spirit of (the local expression) “Let’s do it”. Both of our companies, which trace their roots to Enshu (the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture), intend to apply to the fullest the spirit of “Let’s do it”, and we want to cooperate toward enabling all people throughout the world to truly experience the joy of mobility and to achieving a society of future mobility full of smiles. I am truly thankful for having been given this opportunity to work together with a company such as Suzuki, which overflows with the spirit of challenge. Toyota looks forward to learning much.”

On his part, Suzuki Chairman, Osamu Suzuki, said: “Under the leadership of President Akio Toyoda, Toyota was enthusiastic throughout our discussions regarding partnership, even though such was sought by Suzuki, which was concerned about the development of advanced technologies. I want to express my heartfelt appreciation. In response to Toyota’s display of enthusiasm, Suzuki also intensively engaged in the discussions, and we now stand at the starting point for building a concrete cooperative relationship. I want to give this effort our fullest and to aim at producing results that will lead Toyota to conclude that it was the right thing for Toyota to have decided to work together with Suzuki.”