Toyota and Tesla Really ARE Going to Make Beautiful EV Babies

Just when Toyota looked like it was beginning to be beaten at its own alt-fuel game by the likes of Nissan and GM, they make a daring move by partnering with Tesla Motors to develop future Electric Vehicles. With an investment of $50 million and the sale of the NUMMI production facility to Tesla, Toyota is in exchange getting a partner with a start-up spirit and a much-needed fast track to electric vehicles. In a statement from TMC President Akio Toyoda he said,“Through this partnership, by working together with a venture business such as Tesla, Toyota would like to learn from the challenging spirit, quick decision-making, and flexibility that Tesla has. Decades ago, Toyota was also born as a venture business. By partnering with Tesla, my hope is that all Toyota employees will recall that ‘venture business spirit,’ and take on the challenges of the future.” Tesla gets a manufacturing partner who basically invented modern day production, a 90% ready to go production facility in NUMMI, and hopefully a lot of assistance from Toyota engineers. Toyota gets a partner who is a automobile manufacturer, but thinks like a Silicon Valley company - an influence all of the big manufacturers could use. The impact of this is extremely important on the Toyota side. Instead of talking about coming out with a single commuter EV in 2012, along with hopefully the Prius PHV, Telsa CEO and cofounder Elon Musk says they hope to produce several joint Toyota-branded vehicles after the Tesla Model S hits the market in mid-2012. Other comments Elon Musk stated in the press conference:

• Tesla expects to utilize full capacity of NUMMI eventually - 200,000 cars/year
• Model S will hit the market in mid-2012
• Multiple variations based on the Model S platform will be coming
• More Tesla concepts will be introduced between now and when the Model S goes on sale
• Joint Toyota-branded vehicles following Model S, before future Tesla models

If Toyota can take some telematic and design hints from Tesla, this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Full press release from Toyota & Tesla:

Tesla Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation Intend to Work Jointly on EV Development, TMC to Invest in Tesla May 20, 2010 - Palo Alto, California, U.S.A. — Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) today announced that they intend to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support. The two companies intend to form a team of specialists to further those efforts. TMC has agreed to purchase $50 million of Tesla’s common stock issued in a private placement to close immediately subsequent to the closing of Tesla’s currently planned initial public offering. “I sensed the great potential of Tesla’s technology and was impressed by its dedication to monozukuri (Toyota’s approach to manufacturing),” said TMC President Akio Toyoda. “Through this partnership, by working together with a venture business such as Tesla, Toyota would like to learn from the challenging spirit, quick decision-making, and flexibility that Tesla has. Decades ago, Toyota was also born as a venture business. By partnering with Tesla, my hope is that all Toyota employees will recall that ‘venture business spirit,’ and take on the challenges of the future.” “Toyota is a company founded on innovation, quality, and commitment to sustainable mobility. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Toyota would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla,” said Tesla CEO and cofounder Elon Musk. “We look forward to learning and benefiting from Toyota’s legendary engineering, manufacturing, and production expertise.” TMC has, since its foundation in 1937, operated under the philosophy of “contributing to the society through the manufacture of automobiles,” and made cars that satisfy its many customers around the world. TMC introduced the first-generation Prius hybrid vehicle in 1997, and produced approximately 2.5 million hybrids in the twelve years since. Late last year, TMC started lease of Prius Plug-in Hybrids, which can be charged using an external power source such as a household electric outlet. The company also plans to introduce EVs into the market by 2012. Tesla’s goal is to produce increasingly affordable electric cars to mainstream buyers – relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs. Palo Alto, CA-based Tesla has delivered more than 1000 Roadsters to customers in North America, Europe and Asia. Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components. It is currently the only automaker in the U.S. that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production. The Tesla Roadster accelerates faster than most sports cars yet produces no emissions. Tesla service rangers make house calls to service Roadsters.​

Photo is from the Tesla Model S teaser campaign. Don't get your hopes up, that's not a Toyota.