[ericmvest]

Originally Posted by masrapido

True, the Japanese have traditionally emphasized perfecting existing technology rather than ground-up innovation, but it's rather shortsighted to suggest that GM has nothing to learn from them and that "cutting-edge" technology always takes precedence over careful perfection of proven technology.

What "cutting-edge" tech has Toyota, or anyone else for that matter, "stolen" from GM anyway? Did GM "steal" the Matrix when they rebadged it as the Vibe?

Besides, GM should be flattered that Toyota would make an effort to "steal" technology, whatever that means.

At least someone is thinking objectively.

Being a Japanese apologist is not thinking objectively. A foreign company or government setting up "research" (intelligence gathering) offices in America to gather our technology is not virtuous.


The Japanese stole General Motors catalytic converter technology. A Federal bureaucrat showed the Japanese a General Motors prototype catalytic converter that General Motors loaned the Federal Government allowing the Japanese to take notes, drawings, photographs, etc. The Japanese subsequently produced a copy. A Federal judge did not give General Motors damages because General Motors patented a later version of their catalytic converter and not the prototype the Japanese copied.

Toyota copied TRW’s concept for hybrid vehicles when they developed the Prius. They allowed TRW’s patents to expire before they introduced the Prius therefore there was no patent infringement.

Other than the Toyota Production System, what manufacturing or product innovation has Toyota contributed to the automotive industry?