In an unusual display of teamwork, Ford and General Motors will join DaimlerChrysler in using Covisint's chosen technology provider, Powerway.com, for what the auto industry calls for Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP).

Covisint is the e-business exchange for the automotive industry. Over the next year, Indianapolis-based Powerway Inc.'s Powerway.com, an Internet-based B2B workplace solution, will be integrated into Covisint's quality solutions.

And Covisint said that will enable suppliers around the world to use one standard Web-based environment for APQP communication and collaboration.

"When mission critical e-business solutions such as the Covisint/Powerway quality solution can be agreed upon by OEMs, the benefits of common practices can be reaped by the entire automotive community," said Kevin English, chairman, CEO and president of Covisint.

The solution enables communication and connectivity within the automotive supply chain, organizes key APQP information and provides an easy means for sharing quality information and displaying part quality readiness between customers, Powerway said.

Privately held Powerway, founded in 1987, provides e-business solutions, software and professional services for enhanced collaboration within and between organizations.

Southfield, Mich.-based Covisint was developed by DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Renault, Commerce One and Oracle to provide the automotive industry with collaborative product development, procurement and supply chain tools.