General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday they have agreed to conduct a joint feasibility study of telematics -- vehicle onboard information -- in the Japanese car market.
The two firms said over the next eight months they will study opportunities to collaborate in the area, based on Toyota's plan for its onboard information service G-Book.
G-Book is scheduled to begin in mid 2002, providing information such as traffic conditions, news and entertainment services, according to Toyota.
Toyota Vice President Susumu Miyoshi said the two firms made the agreement as they were sharing the same ideas toward telematic services.
"We are both convinced that telematic services will become an important added value for customers," he said.
GM's OnStar service, which provides traffic information as well as emergency services, is able to be used in Toyota's popular Lexus sedan, he added.
The two automakers said they will discuss standardizing or jointly using technology, hardware, infrastructure and service for telecom carriers, communication modules and onboard terminals.
The firms may also consider Toyota supplying maps and other content to GM, at a price.
The possibility of jointly using Toyota's online information terminals, which are currently installed in convenience stores, as well as digital network technology, infrastructure and services offered through them, will also be studied, they said.