Toyota, Mazda to Co-Develop Infotainment Controllers

Toyota Motor Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp. are collaborating on a common control platform for vehicle infotainment systems, The Nikkei reports.

The shared core technology will be used to control various entertainment, navigation and connectivity systems, according to the Japanese newspaper, which doesn’t cite its sources. The two carmakers will be responsible for developing their own features and applications.

Toyota reportedly is leading the software development effort for the new control system, which will be powered by an open-source Linux platform. Mazda is contributing engineering support and other unspecified expertise.

The first U.S. model to get the control technology is expected to be the 2018 Toyota Camry. Mazda likely will debut the platform in the Mazda3/Axela late next year or in early 2019 as part of an updated version of the current Mazda Connect infotainment system, The Nikkei says.

Earlier this month the companies announced an equity partnership and plans to operate a joint manufacturing factory in the U.S. The plan includes co-developing connected-car and electric car technologies, collaborating on advanced safety systems and expanding the use of “complementary” products.