Toyota is giving Honda, Nissan, Mazda a CHOICE

#toyota #honda #nissan #mitsubishi #mazda #subaru #isuzu #suzuki #prius Is Toyota in full control of Japan? What's new with the 2027 Prius? Toyota President Koji Sato is urging Japan’s seven major automakers to cooperate more closely in order to remain globally competitive amid rapid industry change. Speaking as chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), Sato proposes standardizing common components—such as wire harnesses, steel grades, plastics, and other commodity parts—so companies can reduce costs, improve manufacturing efficiency, and redirect resources toward software, electrification, autonomous driving, and other advanced technologies. Sato believes standardizing wire harnesses alone could increase supplier productivity by more than tenfold, while common material specifications would simplify manufacturing and recycling. The initiative includes Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki, with the first standardized components expected within the next one to two years. Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa supports the effort, saying Japanese automakers will need far greater collaboration to compete internationally. However, some analysts question whether the initiative can move quickly enough to match China's vertically integrated manufacturers, which have dramatically accelerated product development and lowered costs. Sato stresses that the goal is not to eliminate competition but to cooperate on components customers rarely notice while allowing each brand to differentiate through design, software, powertrains, and technology. He argues that Japan's long-term competitiveness depends on preserving its manufacturing expertise while investing aggressively in the next generation of automotive innovation. https://www.autonews.com/toyota/an-to... https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/sup...