Tuesday, September 13, 2005

2005 Toyota Prius

Toyota sued over Prius transmission patent

Solomon Technologies claims the automaker infringes on Electric Wheel plan in 2 models.

By Sophia Pearson / Bloomberg News

Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

Toyota Motor Corp. infringes on a patent in the transmission it uses in its Prius model, a lawsuit filed by a maker of electric motors claims.

Solomon Technologies Inc. accuses Toyota, the world's second-largest automaker, of infringing on its Electric Wheel patent in the Prius and Highlander models. The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in Tampa, Fla., is asking a judge to bar Toyota from further infringement and seeks unspecified damages, according to a statement distributed by Business Wire.

"While we are aware of the difficulties faced by a small company seeking to protect its patent rights against a large company like Toyota, we are determined to use every effort to realize for our shareholders the benefits from our patented technology," Solomon President Peter DeVecchis said in the statement.

DeVecchis didn't immediately return a phone call seeking further comment. Solomon Technologies examined an existing Toyota Prius transmission against its patent claims before filing suit, the statement said. The company, based in Tarpon Springs, Fla., develops and sells electric drive motors for the marine industry.

Toyota said it may sell as many as 250,000 hybrid cars this year, mainly the Prius model. In 2006 it plans to produce as many as 400,000 hybrids, while trying to lower costs, President Katsuaki Watanabe said Monday in New York. Sales may rise to 1 million in 2010.

Shares of Solomon Technologies rose 1 cent to 36 cents Monday in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. Toyota's American depositary receipts rose 21 cents to $85.36 in New York Stock Exchange trading.