The intensive competition in the automotive market has created a new alliance, currently on a small scale, between
Toyota and
BMW. As of 2014, BMW will begin supplying Toyota with advanced 1.6 and 2.0 liter diesel engines and in return Toyota will help BMW in the development of hybrid systems. However, both automakers will develop together the next generation lithium-ion battery technology. For Toyota, this agreement might be a turning point in its European operations.