7 Years Later Honda Copies Volkswagen Global Platform Model to Reduce Costs

Big changes lie ahead for Honda as the Japanese company aims to streamline its global operations and make manufacturing more efficient.

The automaker announced that it will cut the number of model variants available in North America and other regions and reorganize its production base. Honda is pushing for improved efficiency as increasing investments in next-generation technologies take a toll on its profits. On May 8 Honda reported a 13 percent decline in fiscal full-year operating profit.

Read Article

Agent009 - 5/9/2019 12:50:15 PM

-5 Boost

the original platform was not really modular

Agent009 - 5/9/2019 2:14:09 PM

-2 Boost

The only portion of the MQB platform that is not adjustable is the distance between the pedal and the steering wheel. The rest is adjustable.

Engineering background?? Not needed in this case if you read the specs on each platform.

The Honda platform is more series of choices to fit a vehicle for a region.

The VW platform allows for exceptions that don't fit neatly in those boxes. A great example is the extended wheelbase variations commonly used in China for VW. If they release a new model and there is demand for an extended wheelbase version it can accommodated easily and built on the same assembly line as the traditional versions.

Typically most assembly lines can build one platform at a time without retooling. In VW's case they can adjust the assembly line for the difference with relatively little down time.

dlin - 5/9/2019 12:00:44 PM

-1 Boost

Nissan and Honda are both in trouble...

Since Nissan were already with Renault, it's Honda's turn to find some alliance to share cost, while VW should borrow Honda's expertise to improve their FWD products.

malba2367 - 5/9/2019 2:25:09 PM

+1 Boost

Honda needs to align with another automaker. Best choice would be to try to join the VW/Ford Alliance. Honda’s expertise in low cost compact vehicles and their strengths in the market lines up very well with Ford and VW.

MDarringer - 5/9/2019 7:23:04 PM

+1 Boost

Several big automakers sharing one modular platform and then differentiate with bespoke styling and engines makes sense.

There is no reason the Mustang and Camaro could not share a chassis.

A Honda/Ford/VW tie up would be good for Ford and astoundingly fantastic for VW given how superior Honda's engineering is to VW's crap.

ricks0me - 5/9/2019 6:17:44 PM

-1 Boost

malba2367 would be correct

MDarringer - 5/9/2019 7:20:48 PM

-1 Boost

Honda and Acura's issues come down to styling. All of their cars are UGLY. The engineering is excellent. The quality is excellent. The performance is excellent, but the styling is HIDEOUS. The Accord tanked because it is Aztekian (sic) in it ugliness.