Toyota creates a research institute in China to study hydrogen and green technologies

BEIJING (Reuters) – Japan 's Toyota Motor Corp. announced on Sunday the establishment of a research institute in Beijing, in partnership with Tsinghua University, to study automotive technology using the latest technology. hydrogen and other green technologies likely to mitigate environmental problems in China.

This initiative, presented by the President and CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, in a speech at Tsinghua University, is part of the Japanese automaker's efforts to share more technologies with China, which wants to expand its business in the country by strengthening its manufacturing capabilities and distribution channels, said a source close to Toyota.

The Tsinghua-Toyota Joint Research Institute will conduct research on cars and new technologies to solve environmental problems in China, including reducing road accidents, Toyota said in a statement.

The institute "will cooperate in research not only on cars for Chinese consumers, but also in research on the active use of hydrogen energy that can help solve China's energy problems", announced the society.

This decision is in line with Toyota's announcement this month that it will offer automakers and automakers worldwide free access to nearly 24,000 electric vehicle technology patents.

Executive Vice President Shigeki Terashi told Reuters earlier this month that the automaker wanted to become a tier-2 hybrid systems provider and that it had already received inquiries from more than 50 companies.