Toyota, Suzuki join forces for new auto technology

Tokyo - Toyota, the world's top automaker, and Suzuki, its Japanese rival, are partnering to create new technologies.

Both automakers announced in a joint statement on Wednesday that they will study areas in developing technology for the environment, safety and information networking.

Industry standard

The automakers said such areas are likely to benefit from a partnership, especially as the industry is changing rapidly in those areas.

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Toyota and Suzuki said they will continue to compete in other ways. They expressed hopes other automakers will join the partnership to help work toward an industry standard in such areas.

Suzuki specializes in mini-cars, but has acknowledged problems with its emissions tests in Japan, after Mitsubishi acknowledged it had cheated on such tests.