DEARBORN, MI – Ford and Toyota announced a joint plan to collaborate on the development of an advanced hybrid system for light trucks and SUVs. The two companies also agreed to work together on “enablers” to complement each other’s existing telematics platform standards.

The automakers signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreement that specifies the companies will jointly develop, as equal partners a new rear-wheel drive hybrid system and component technology for light trucks and SUVs. It also states they will independently integrate the new hybrid system in their respective future vehicles separately. The news release from Ford said this rear-wheel-drive hybrid system will be based on an all-new vehicle architecture.

For the telematics collaboration, both companies stated it relates only to standards and technologies. Each company will continue to separately develop their own in-vehicle products and features.