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ReprintsNew keiretsu model will thin out suppliers
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Over the next five years or so, any automaker that hasn't joined a keiretsu will be fighting for its life.
I'm not talking about the traditional Toyota and Nissan keiretsu model, where automakers form alliances with suppliers. I'm talking about the new norm: tightly knit alliances with other automakers.
It's already happening. Volkswagen formed a partnership with Suzuki, Toyota signed up Subaru and Daimler aligned itself with Renault-Nissan. In classic keiretsu style, some of these automakers are taking equity stakes in their partners.
Meanwhile, Saab is hunting frantically for allies in China and Germany. Mitsubishi is trying (and trying and trying) to buddy up with Peugeot.
Here's the rub for suppliers: As automakers join alliances, model lineups will be derived from a steadily shrinking number of global platforms. European suppliers to Smart, for example, were surely chagrined to learn that the next Smart for North America will be built by Nissan.
Check out our Top 10 list of platforms at the bottom of this blog. If you can't get a contract to supply Toyota, VW or Nissan, you may find yourself frozen out by their smaller allies.
It's a cold world.
| Prolific platforms | ||
| The world's 10 top light-vehicle platforms, by production: | ||
| Platform | 2010 units produced | 2016 est. units produced |
| Renault-Nissan X85 | 2,570,000 | 3,917,000 |
| VW MQB | 24,000 | 3,858,000 |
| Toyota MC | 2,950,000 | 3,274,000 |
| Ford C1 | 1,451,000 | 2,714,000 |
| Fiat 199 | 1,370,000 | 2,635,000 |
| Hyundai HD | 1,897,000 | 2,486,000 |
| Toyota NBC | 1,409,000 | 2,230,000 |
| GM Global Gamma | 333,000 | 2,123,000 |
| GM Global Delta | 966,000 | 2,022,000 |
| PSA PF2 | 1,213,837 | 1,847,000 |
| Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers | ||
You can reach David Sedgwick at dsedgwick@crain.com.
