Thanks for the article...
For those uninformed, Aisin AW is a branch of Aisin Seiki, which is controlled by Toyota. It was formed as a joint venture of Aisin Seiki and Borg Warner (long time supplier to the Big 3 as well as others). Think of Aisin somewhat like Delphi is to GM or Visteon is to Ford. Aisin, Visteon, and Delphi all now get business from outside their originial owners. In fact, the 6 speed automatic used on V-6 equipped Ford Fusions is an Aisin AW product. It isn't the same 6 speed automatic transmission as used on the V-6 equipped Toyota Camry, though.
Which brings up a question (not to cast doubt on you, Myrddin, as you do appear to have some inside knowledge), but just because a product with the same goal is produced by the same supplier, can it be considered the same product? By using Aisin, do we consider Ford's design to be "bought" and not developed (Ford does use the Aisin T-030/T-031 transmission for the Hybrid Escape, for example)?
Do we say Toyota couldn't build a passive anti-theft system and thus had to turn to Ford by buying from Visteon? Or interior/exterior electronics and fuel systems? Or Honda couldn't build an instrument panel, so they had to turn to Visteon?
In the confusing world of joint ventures, spinoffs, etc of the modern automotive business, it is difficult to draw lines. Buying from a common supplier is not necessarily the same as buying a system....