High-priced technology pushes trucking rivals into unusual alliances
Japanese truck makers latest to combine powertrain and autonomous efforts
0 398 5 minutes read
Truck makers are forming alliances to share the cost burden of advanced technologies. (Photo: Toyota)
Battery-electric trucks. Hydrogen-powered fuel cells. Hybrid technologies. Diesel-powered semis. Self-driving trucks. All share a common theme: They are too expensive to develop alone.
Rival truck manufacturers will scrap for every fleet contract. But they increasingly take a pragmatic approach to technology partnerships.
“We’ve seen it in the past. And it generally works out pretty well,” said Mike Ramsey, a Gartner Inc. vice president and automotive and smart mobility analyst. “Ford and GM hate each other. But they have a transmission they built together.”