Japanese automakers are looking to shorten the time it takes to develop new vehicles as they try to keep pace with Chinese manufacturers. Japanese companies typically need four to five years to develop a model, compared with less than two years for Chinese rivals, according to the report. It also notes that Chinese automakers can launch hundreds of new vehicles within six months.
Nissan plans to use shared platforms for models of similar size. It aims to develop a new SUV for North America in three years and one month, targeting a 2028 launch. Derivative models based on the same platform could take two and a half years to develop, a reduction of up to 40%. The broader product strategy is expected to cover 80% of Nissan’s global sales and cut the number of parts types by 70%.
Honda’s “Triple Half” approach seeks to halve development costs, time and workload compared with 2025, using AI and other digital technologies on models entering development from 2028. Toyota is reducing parts variety and targets a 35% improvement in factory-floor space efficiency through its Area 35 project. Suzuki aims to halve development time to about two years, while Mitsubishi targets a 20% reduction, reaching three years around 2030.