Ford Aims to Reduce Global Platforms to 8

Ford Motor Co. tells analysts that 99% of the cars and light trucks it builds in 2016 will ride on one of nine platforms.

The company currently uses 15 platforms to carry about 90% of its output. Ford now aims to narrow its platforms to eight by an unspecified date.

The company announced the nine-platform target nearly a year ago but was not specific about the timing. Fewer platforms reduce production costs and, according to Ford, will enable its factories to build an average four models simultaneously compared with three currently.

Ford C1 Platform (C-Max)