PDA

View Full Version : Toyota May Enter Commercial Aircraft Industry



Matt Molnar
2008-03-05, 09:26 AM
Business Week:

Toyota asked to invest in jet project (http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8V72OM81.htm)

By CHISAKI WATANABE

Japan's top automaker Toyota said Wednesday it has been asked to invest in a project to build the first "made in Japan" passenger aircraft in three decades.

The Asahi newspaper reported Wednesday that Toyota Motor Corp. plans to invest about 10 billion yen ($96.7 million) in the project by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco said a decision has not yet been made.

...

The Mitsubishi Regional Jet is to be a twin-engine aircraft seating about 70 to 90 people. The lightweight carbon-fiber composite jet is designed to consume about 20 percent less fuel than comparable standard jets. [Full article (http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8V72OM81.htm)]

These are exciting times for large RJs, with the Brazilians, Russians, Canadians, and now the Japanese building or planning to build them.