Toyota Forms New Venture With Microsoft For Connected Cars

If Toyota (TM) - Get Report has its way, one of the cars you may drive in the future can let your boss know that you're late for a meeting, while booking your dinner reservations for the way home. That's the vision behind Toyota Connected, the automaker's new venture with Microsoft (MSFT) - Get Report which launched today. According to Toyota, the venture builds on its existing relationship with Microsoft, with the goal of speeding up research and development efforts in order to deliver new connected car technologies to consumers in the near future.  Microsoft has a five percent stake in the Plano, Texas-based venture, which will essentially operate as a data sciences hub. 'Our key focus here is really on data management, data analytics, and ultimately building some innovative and really amazing experiences,' explained Zack Hicks, President and CEO of Toyota Connected.