Published in IoT

Toyota and Panasonic set up company for 'connected' homes

by on09 May 2019


We are all connected

Toyota and Panasonic have teamed up on “connected” services to be used in homes and urban development.

The tie-up deepens the partnership between the companies, which in January announced a joint venture to build electric-vehicle (EV) batteries, pooling the R&D and manufacturing strengths of one of the world’s largest automakers and battery makers to compete in the fast-growing EV market.

Toyota and Panasonic said they will set up the new company early next year to focus on technology that could be used to offer personalised services in the home. The pair plan to be 50-50 partners in the new firm and will increase cooperation at their respective housing operations in Japan.

Panasonic President Kazuhiro Tsuga said: “We will put our respective strengths together to offer new value in everyday life.”

The move comes at a time when lower-emissions vehicles and ride-sharing services have opened up the auto industry to new competitors, leaving traditional car makers and their suppliers scrambling to find alternate revenue streams.

Toyota has been developing connected cars that can share information on usage - data that could be leveraged for on-demand ridesharing, insurance and maintenance.

The automaker has said it will tap into its partner network and its operations which range from building and selling cars, homes, and companion robots to expand into new transportation and home energy services.

Toyota President Akio Toyota said: “We can use this network not only to manufacture and sell vehicles and provide new services. “In addition to cars, I think that having our own housing business and connected business will be a big advantage for us.”

 

Last modified on 09 May 2019
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