Venture with US firm, India strategy show Toyota is changing

The much-vaunted systems used by Toyota Motor Corp to churn out millions of vehicles are being put to one side as the automaker tries to crack new markets in the United States and India. In the United States, speed has been at the fore in Toyota's joint development of an electric version of its RAV4 sport-utility vehicle with start-up manufacturer Tesla Motors Inc, while it has tailored a compact car for the Indian market that has been made with even barefoot drivers in mind. On May 20, Toyota and Tesla made the surprising announcement that they were forming a corporate tie-up. But that was not the only startling development. "We made the first prototype car in only three weeks," said Shigeki Terashi, president of Toyota Technical Centre USA. Despite being on the front line of the joint development, even Terashi was unable to suppress his surprise at Tesla's nimbleness and ability to get things done quickly - ANN/Yomiuri Shimbun
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