One Platform to Carry 40% of Honda’s Output

Honda Motor Co. is developing a single platform for its three most popular models the Civic small sedan, Accord midsize sedan and CR-V crossover that it expects to cut related purchasing costs 30%, according to The Nikkei, which cites no sources.

The new chassis will be phased in as next-generation versions of the three models are introduced between 2015 and 2017, the Tokyo-based newspaper says. It reports that those models, which currently generate about 40% of Honda's sales worldwide, will share 40%-50% of their content by value.

Today's Civic and CR-V share about 20% common parts, even though they share a platform, The Nikkei says. The newspaper reports that the Accord, which uses a different chassis, has only a few components in common with the Civic.

Honda also intends over the next several years to dramatically boost the outsourcing of parts design and production to about 30 of the world's largest suppliers. Its aim, according to the newspaper, is to push the ratio of outsourced components to 40% by 2020 from 16% in 2011.