In a move that aims to cut some suppliers and reduce procurement costs by about one-third, Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. will jointly develop a platform for at least 10 models, according to a report from the Nikkei business daily. The plan includes designing a common platform for mid-sized SUVs and sedans, and standardizing 70 key components (such as windows and brakes) that account for approximately 80% of the total cost for parts and materials.
The report mentioned that Nissan's X-Trail and Dualis SUVs and Renault's Fluence sedan and Megane are included in the list of models that will share the platform and components. The companies are expected to achieve a 30% reduction in parts procurement costs for mid-sized vehicles. This translates to several hundred billion yen a year, through bulk purchasing.
The newspaper also reported that the common platform and standardized parts will appear in vehicles starting 2013 and will make up about 1.5 million units a year. This is about a quarter of the total that Renault and Nissan sold worldwide in 2009. Nikkei also reported that even if the two carmakers began purchasing materials and parts through a joint procurement entity in April 2009, cost benefits have been limited since they share only eight types of components. [via autonews - sub. required]
