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Toyota Motor Corp. has agreed to develop and deploy its smart-gird technology for running electric systems more efficiently on Microsoft's cloud-based Azure technology. The deal calls for the two companies to investing a total of $12 million on Toyota Media Service Co., a Toyota subsidiary that will provide digital information services to Toyota'scar customers.
The service, a centerpiece of Toyota's green initiative, will provide telematics such as GPS systems and energy management technology for Toyota's electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2012. Toyota hopes to roll out the technology to its entire car lineup by 2015.
Microsoft's Steve Ballmer
(Credit:Microsoft)
The new technology will be tested as part of the Toyota Smart Center pilot program, currently running in Japan. The trial gives consumers detailed information about energy consumption in their cars and homes so they manage their use more efficiently. Toyota has said it believes such smart-grid systems can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions 75 percent.
"This new partnership between Microsoft and Toyota is an important step in developing greater future mobility and energy management for consumers around the world. Creating these more efficient, more environmentally advanced products will be our contribution to society," Akio Toyoda, Toyota's president, said in a statement announcing the news.
For Microsoft, the deal moves the company farther into the automotive business. The software giant has already partnered with Ford for its Sync in-car connectivity system that lets drivers access their phone and music device with voice commands. "Today's announcement of our partnership with (Toyota) is a great example of how we continue to invest in the automotive industry and of our commitment to power the services that are important to consumers," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement.
We will update after a 4 pm EDT press conference.
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The service, a centerpiece of Toyota's green initiative, will provide telematics such as GPS systems and energy management technology for Toyota's electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2012. Toyota hopes to roll out the technology to its entire car lineup by 2015.
Microsoft's Steve Ballmer(Credit:Microsoft)
The new technology will be tested as part of the Toyota Smart Center pilot program, currently running in Japan. The trial gives consumers detailed information about energy consumption in their cars and homes so they manage their use more efficiently. Toyota has said it believes such smart-grid systems can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions 75 percent.
"This new partnership between Microsoft and Toyota is an important step in developing greater future mobility and energy management for consumers around the world. Creating these more efficient, more environmentally advanced products will be our contribution to society," Akio Toyoda, Toyota's president, said in a statement announcing the news.
For Microsoft, the deal moves the company farther into the automotive business. The software giant has already partnered with Ford for its Sync in-car connectivity system that lets drivers access their phone and music device with voice commands. "Today's announcement of our partnership with (Toyota) is a great example of how we continue to invest in the automotive industry and of our commitment to power the services that are important to consumers," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement.
We will update after a 4 pm EDT press conference.
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text Feed | Amazon Affiliate