Toyota is targeting to cut its capital spending on parts production by half within the next four years, and how it hopes to achieve this is by standardising its component designs, reports indicate.
For its new vehicles, the company is starting to design parts using a new method, which is called the Toyota New Global Architecture program. While body and interior designs will continue to reflect different characteristics for various global markets, the design of components hidden away are set to be standardised.
By doing so, Toyota is looking at universalising about half of a vehicle’s 4,000 to 5,000 various parts. Standardising components will also help streamline processing facilities, enabling a reduction in cost of capital spending and fixed operating expenses. Going that route will also bring down production costs for autoparts makers.
The reports add that the company already has a project in place that pares back parts costs by overhauling manufacturing processes and materials, but the new programme – which spans a range of vehicle models – will speed up cost savings. According to the company’s executive vice president Shinichi Sasaki, the benefits will begin to show up in one year and be full-blown in four.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments mostly discuss Toyota's move to standardize component designs as a cost-cutting measure, highlighting that they have long shared parts across models and even with sister companies like Daihatsu and Perodua. Some believe this approach maximizes profits and reduces development costs, while others worry it may diminish innovation and driving enjoyment. Several comments criticize the focus on cutting costs at the expense of safety, quality, and value, with some comparing Toyota's practices unfavorably to other automakers like VW, Audi, and Proton. A few suggest that shared parts and platforms are common in the industry and note potential risks of overly homogenized vehicles losing appeal. Overall, the sentiment leans towards skepticism about cost reduction strategies potentially compromising quality and innovation.