Kyodo reports Japanese automakers are accelerating vehicle R&D to keep pace with
rivals that launch new models faster. Toyota, Honda, Nissan and peers typically
take about 4–5 years to develop a new model. Nissan's new family-style
development strategy will use a common platform across multiple same-size
models, covering roughly 80% of global sales and expected to cut parts varieties
by about 70%. Toyota's Area 35 plan aims to reduce parts counts and raise
factory area utilization by 35%. Suzuki plans to halve development time to about
two years; Mitsubishi targets roughly a 20% reduction to a three-year cycle by
around 2030.
