Is Platform Sharing Among Automakers A Good Or Bad Thing?

Demand is so brisk for utility vehicles that automakers are finding creative ways to bring them to market quickly.

For instance, the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler have a long-term cooperative agreement to share products and technologies for years to come, and this arrangement has spawned the new Infiniti QX30, a likable luxury compact CUV that handles well, looks stylish inside and out and is affordable.

Read Article

valhallakey - 8/16/2016 7:27:21 PM

+3 Boost

i suppose it cuts both ways. It can allow a maker who is struggling to cut development costs and get something out the door quicker. On the other hand it limits the diversity of platforms and all the variabilities that we get among the different manufacturers that makes for a rich universe of autos right now.

dumpsty - 8/16/2016 7:28:39 PM

+3 Boost

Not a bad thing financailly. Automakers have done so for decades now & it saves money when developing the cheaper/smaller vehicles.

Dexter1 - 8/16/2016 11:03:12 PM

0 Boost

In theory, it may be a good thing. Except the lesser of the two brands (ex: Nissan vs. MB) always gets the short end of the stick. The MB has the latest tech. The Nissan gets the leftovers. The same thing will happen with the BMW/Toyota venture. Munich will get the top-shelf stuff; Tokyo will settle for the bar brands.

cidflekken - 8/18/2016 5:31:00 PM

+1 Boost

It doesn't make sense to me when the sharing is amongst competing brands. If it is intra-brand sharing, then it could cheapen the perception of the more expensive product.