Toyota Ex-President Urges 7 Japanese Automakers to Cooperate on Parts Standardization

Akio Toyoda, former president of Toyota and current chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, has urged Japan's seven major automakers to increase information sharing and standardize parts. This move is intended to significantly reduce development costs and speed up the introduction of new vehicles, as Japanese carmakers face intense competition from Chinese manufacturers supported by government subsidies.

Toyoda proposed establishing "Japanese standards" for commonly produced parts. The plan is to introduce the first standardized materials within the next one to two years, followed by the expansion of standardized parts to the global market. This collaborative effort would integrate the strengths of all seven Japanese automakers and their overseas suppliers.

“

Japanese car manufacturers should share more information and promote parts standardization to significantly reduce R&D costs and speed up the launch of new cars.

The cost savings from standardization could be redirected towards research and development of new technologies, such as shared hardware for in-car systems that still feature unique user interfaces for each brand. Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa has already expressed support for this initiative. However, industry analysts caution that a lack of consensus could potentially slow down individual development progress.

“

Japanese car manufacturers should establish 'Japanese standards' for standardized common parts.