Toyota May Enter Commercial Aircraft Industry
Business Week:
Quote:
Toyota asked to invest in jet project
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.
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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. [
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These are exciting times for large RJs, with the Brazilians, Russians, Canadians, and now the Japanese building or planning to build them.
