Toyota and Tesla – Counting on an image boost

The usually grim-faced Toyota President Akio Toyoda was all smiles Friday, trumpeting a newfound friendship with U.S. luxury electric carmaker Tesla.

Toyoda received as a gift from Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk a red roadster.

Toyoda's appearance struck a contrast to others in the past year that were dominated by apologies about Toyota's massive global recalls of some of its most popular cars.

Shaking hands with Musk, Toyoda told reporters the Japanese automaker had much to learn from Tesla.

"The speedy decision-making that's part of its makeup is what we really want to absorb," he said at a Tokyo Lexus showroom. "Toyota began as a venture. I think this will give us an opportunity to bring back that spirit."