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Toyota Motor Corp. said today that it will license the hybrid technologies used in its flagship Prius car to Mazda Motor Co. in an encouraging move for the world's leading hybrid carmaker, which is still reeling from global recall issues.


The deal comes as Toyota the same day reported a jump in global production for February, and a day before the first meeting of its special committee tasked with improving vehicle quality in the wake of its recall woe.


Under the latest agreement, Mazda will procure key hybrid components developed by Toyota such as the electronic control unit and inverter to develop its own hybrid system.


Mazda, in which Ford Motor Co. owns an 11 percent stake, will combine the system with its next generation gasoline engine to launch a hybrid vehicle in Japan by 2013. The company hasn't yet decided yet whether to sell the model in other markets, a Mazda spokesman said.


Underscoring its leading position in hybrid technology, this is the third time that Toyota has struck a deal on its hybrid business. It is supplying complete hybrid systems to Nissan Motor Co. and has a technology license agreement with Ford.


Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the maker of Subaru brand cars, also hopes to roll out a hybrid model by 2012 using Toyota's hybrid system. Toyota holds a 16 percent stake in Fuji Heavy.


Producing components for Mazda will help Toyota lower costs through economies of scale.
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Tags: Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuji Heavy Industries, Honda, Hybrid, Mazda, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Tax Incentives, Toyota, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuji, Hybrid, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Tax Incentives, Toyota Prius

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Toyota to License Prius Hybrid Technology to Mazda in Addition to Nissan and Fuji was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.