Toyota opens patents to save hybrids. But it doesn't work
The well-known Japanese automaker Toyota has announced that it is immediately submitting 24,000 free licenses for its patents relating to electrical components and systems to companies that produce hybrid vehicles.
Thus, any hybrid manufacturer can now use Toyota Motor patents without having to pay any royalties. The company hopes that this move will help strengthen and expand the hybrid vehicle market. The automaker also plans to offer paid technical support for the development of hybrid vehicles using their patents.
“If the number of electrified vehicles increases significantly over the next 10 years, they will become the standard, and we look forward to playing our part in supporting this process,” said Shigeki Terashi, Member of the Board and Executive Vice President of Toyota.
It emphasizes that patents can only be used for hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, not for electric vehicles. This is despite the fact that many patents concern components that can be used in all-electric vehicles.
This move has already caused skepticism among a number of analysts. Toyota has not yet been able to bring a fully electric car to the market, the manufacturer is clearly lagging behind in this matter. Apparently, the company hopes that such a decision will strengthen the hybrid market, which is clearly starting to decline under the onslaught of electric vehicles. This process can be observed, for example, in Norway. Hybrids are already clearly perceived by many as a kind of transitional option that does not have a great future.
Previously, a similar step with the opening of patents was made by Tesla. That's just the goal was, of course, the market for electric vehicles.
