Toyota, Nissan To Work Together On Computer Control Systems

By Agence France-Presse Japan's two biggest carmakers Toyota Motor and Nissan Motor said they have agreed to work together on the standardization of software and networks for an electronic vehicle-control system. Under the plan, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. will join non-profit JASPAR, established by Toyota's subsidiaries, to develop electronic vehicle-control systems such as engine-controlling devices and car-navigation systems. JASPAR also is expected to develop an "intelligent" transport system in which vehicles and traffic will be controlled by computers though advanced information networks. "This is the first joint effort by Japanese carmakers to standardize electronic vehicle-control systems," says a Toyota Motor Corp. spokesman. "This will help us reduce development costs." The two companies plan to call on other companies, including their rivals and electronics parts makers, to join the project, according to the spokesman. Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2004