Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Aisin Seiki have signed an agreement to consolidate the Toyota Group's manual transmission production and development, according to a company press release. Under the agreement, the development of manual transmissions for mass-produced vehicles will be consolidated at Aisin AI, Aisin Seiki's subsidiary, by the end of 2016. In addition, Toyota's domestic manual transmission production operations will be transferred to Aisin AI's plant in Japan in February 2016. Outside Japan, Aisin Seiki plans to acquire a stake in Toyota Autoparts Philippines in January 2016 and Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts Private in July 2016. The ratio of Aisin Seiki's equity participation in these units will be finalised after further discussions between the relevant parties but is expected to be between 25% and 34%.
Significance: This agreement builds on a previous deal in November 2014, the aim of which was to achieve optimal research and development (R&D) management and enable Toyota to streamline a comprehensive vehicle development strategy for the enhancement of Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) to ensure its sustainable growth. Toyota also revealed its plan to restructure its R&D organisation to enhance the company's focus on the development of cutting-edge base technologies – common to both diesel and gasoline (petrol) engines – and next-generation powertrain components while improving its overall powertrain system capabilities. Aisin AI is a specialist manufacturer of manual transmissions, engaging in development and production for automakers around the world. Production of manual transmissions is currently carried out at TMC's Kinuura Plant.
