<MikeHunt@lycos.com> wrote in message news:42B33C1F.5B36E523@lycos.com...
> Not so. It was a Japanese company working in concert with Volvo,
> Toyo Togyo, and Toyota. Ford gained full access when they bought
> Volvo. Each company licensed each others patents to avoid the
> need for cross licensing. The system in the Escape and the
> Prius, while based on the same technology, are difference in
> application. Search "Automotive News" for the particulars
>
>
> mike hunt
>

Some background... Toyo Kogyo (not Togyo) was the predecessor to what is
known today as Mazda. I do not know about the particulars of Ford access to
hybrid technology, but it looks like Ford's interest in Volvo and Mazda
would get the the access. Nissan's access to hybrid technology will come
from Toyota.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

>
>
> SoCalMike wrote:
>>
>> MikeHunt@lycos.com wrote:
>> > GM also has a large piece of Suzuki but they build the cars in
>> > the former Daewoo plants in Korea. Ford has a large piece of
>> > Mazda but they can not own the company. Ford also had a big piece
>> > of the Japanese electrical company that developed the hybrid
>> > system for the Escape and the Prius but could not buy the company
>> > even though would like to. Toyota bought the company.
>>
>> i was under the impression toyota designed the system wholly on their
>> own, and licensed the technology to ford.

 

Ray O wrote:
> <MikeHunt@lycos.com> wrote in message news:42B33C1F.5B36E523@lycos.com...
>
>>Not so. It was a Japanese company working in concert with Volvo,
>>Toyo Togyo, and Toyota. Ford gained full access when they bought
>>Volvo. Each company licensed each others patents to avoid the
>>need for cross licensing. The system in the Escape and the
>>Prius, while based on the same technology, are difference in
>>application. Search "Automotive News" for the particulars
>>
>>
>>mike hunt
>>
>
>
> Some background... Toyo Kogyo (not Togyo) was the predecessor to what is
> known today as Mazda. I do not know about the particulars of Ford access to
> hybrid technology, but it looks like Ford's interest in Volvo and Mazda
> would get the the access. Nissan's access to hybrid technology will come
> from Toyota.


FWIW, without toyota having the cojones to get out there, USE the system
in the prius GenI and report back so it can be improved on, NO ONE would
be using it.

and as a side note, i remember being behind an escape hybrid on the 5
freeway back from san diego a couple years ago. wouldnt have thunk
anything of it, except the blue michigan "manufacturer" plates made it
stand out to me.

 

Ford had an Escape hybrid ready for market in April of 2002 but
when they bought Volvo they held it up until the could use the
more efficient system they use now. The system used in the
current Prius is not the same as used in the previous Prius.
Nissan is going to built a 2006 hybrid Altama, in Tennessee, that
is more closely related to the Escape than the Prius.

Initially Ford dealers where getting over MSRP for the hybrid
Escape, like the Prius. Now one can buy a hybrid Escape for
under MSRP. I guess Ford buyers where smart enough to know they
could buy the more powerful V6 Escape for a lot less than the
hybrid and use the savings to buy ALL of their fuel for four
years and need not worry about buying a battery pack for $4,000
or so at come point later. ;)


mike hunt


SoCalMike wrote:
>
> Ray O wrote:
> > <MikeHunt@lycos.com> wrote in message news:42B33C1F.5B36E523@lycos.com...
> >
> >>Not so. It was a Japanese company working in concert with Volvo,
> >>Toyo Togyo, and Toyota. Ford gained full access when they bought
> >>Volvo. Each company licensed each others patents to avoid the
> >>need for cross licensing. The system in the Escape and the
> >>Prius, while based on the same technology, are difference in
> >>application. Search "Automotive News" for the particulars
> >>
> >>
> >>mike hunt
> >>
> >
> >

i remember being behind an escape hybrid on the 5
> freeway back from san diego a couple years ago. wouldnt have thunk
> anything of it, except the blue michigan "manufacturer" plates made it
> stand out to me.