Japanese automakers are considering closer cooperation in the development and production of components. This is not about creating common cars, but about standardizing individual parts that do not affect the appearance and individuality of models.
The initiative is being discussed within the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), which unites Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki. According to Toyota President and JAMA Chairman Koji Sato, the industry is undergoing a massive transformation, so companies need to find new forms of cooperation.
We keenly feel that the Japanese automotive industry is in a period of significant change. Now is the time to develop joint initiatives and carry out reforms necessary for the entire industry.
Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa supported this position. According to him, component unification will allow manufacturers to direct more resources towards developing technologies that are truly important to customers. These include modern software platforms, driver assistance systems, and faster charging for electric vehicles.
In the first stage, companies plan to standardize primarily hidden components, such as electrical wiring harnesses, hoses, and other engineering elements. However, the issue of creating common platforms, bodies, or load-bearing structures is not yet being considered.
Such practices are already applied within large automotive concerns. For example, the Volkswagen Group has long used the modular MQB platform, on which dozens of models from different brands are built. However, Japanese manufacturers intend to extend cooperation not within a single group, but between several independent companies.