TOKYO, Aug. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor
Corporation (TMC) and Uber Technologies, Inc. (Uber) today
announced that they have agreed to expand their collaboration with
the aim of advancing and bringing to market autonomous ride-sharing
as a mobility service at scale. To accomplish this, technology from
each company will be integrated into purpose-built Toyota vehicles
to be deployed on Uber's ride-sharing network.
Separately, Toyota is investing $500
million in Uber.
"Combining efforts with Uber, one of the predominant global
ride-sharing and automated driving R&D companies, could further
advance future mobility," said Shigeki Tomoyama, executive vice
president, TMC, and president, Toyota Connected Company. "This
agreement and investment marks an important milestone in our
transformation to a mobility company as we help provide a path for
safe and secure expansion of mobility services like ride-sharing
that includes Toyota vehicles and technologies."
As Uber and Toyota look ahead to a self-driving future, this
partnership will be critical in realizing self-driving technology
at scale. Uber and Toyota anticipate that the mass-produced
autonomous vehicles will be owned and operated by mutually agreed
upon third party autonomous fleet operators.
"The deal is the first of its kind for Uber, and signals our
commitment to bringing world-class technologies to the Uber
network," said Dara Khosrowshahi,
Uber's CEO. "Our goal is to deploy the world's safest self-driving
cars on the Uber network, and this agreement is another significant
step towards making that a reality. Uber's advanced technology and
Toyota's commitment to safety and its renowned manufacturing
prowess make this partnership a natural fit. I look forward to
seeing what our teams accomplish together."
The initial "Autono-MaaS" (autonomous-mobility as a service)
fleet will be based on Toyota's Sienna Minivan platform. Uber's
Autonomous Driving System and the Toyota Guardian automated safety
support system will both be integrated into the Autono-MaaS
vehicles. Toyota will also utilize its Mobility Services Platform
(MSPF), its core information infrastructure for connected vehicles.
Pilot-scale deployments will begin on the Uber ride-sharing network
in 2021.
"Uber's automated driving system and Toyota's Guardian system
will independently monitor the vehicle environment and real-time
situation, enhancing overall vehicle safety for both the automated
driver and the vehicle," said Dr. Gill
Pratt, Toyota Research Institute CEO and TMC Fellow. "We
look forward to this partnership accelerating both companies'
development and deployment of automated driving technology."
Toyota's investment in Uber and the proposed collaboration are
subject to standard regulatory approvals.
About Uber
Uber's mission is to bring reliable
transportation to everyone, everywhere. We started in 2010 to solve
a simple problem: how do you get a ride at the touch of a button?
We've since completed 5 billion trips and remain committed to
building a platform that enables the safe, efficient movement of
people around the world. Today, the team at the Advanced
Technologies Group (ATG) is tackling another challenge: how do you
build and deploy self-driving technology at scale? The ATG is
comprised of world-class engineering talent dedicated to vehicle
safety, self-driving software, mapping, and more. Uber is taking a
holistic approach to bringing self-driving vehicles to market
through a variety of partnerships, with the ultimate goal of
creating autonomous ridesharing at scale.
About Toyota
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) (NYSE:TM)
is the global mobility company that introduced the Prius
hybrid-electric car in 1997 and the first mass-produced fuel cell
sedan, Mirai, in 2014. Headquartered in Toyota City, Japan, Toyota has been making cars since 1937.
Today, Toyota proudly employs 370,000 employees in communities
around the world. Together, they build around 10 million vehicles
per year in 28 countries and regions, from mainstream cars and
premium vehicles to mini-vehicles and commercial trucks, and sell
them in more than 170 countries and regions under the brands
Toyota, Lexus, Daihatsu and Hino. For more information, please
visit www.toyota-global.com.
Media Contacts
Toyota Motor Corporation
Japan
Media line, +81-3-3817-9170, bc-toyota-pr@mail.toyota.co.jp
US (Toyota Motor North America):
Brian Lyons, brian.lyons@toyota.com,
+1-469-292-3573
Toyota Research Institute
John Hanson, john.hanson@tri.global,
+1-657-331-1291
Uber
Media email: press@uber.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America