Renault-Nissan Unveils Modular System for Product Development

The Renault SA-Nissan Motor Co. alliance says it will be able to reduce new-product development costs 30%-40% with its new "common module family" (CMF) strategy.

CMF extends the concept of common platforms by dividing portions of the vehicle engine bay, cockpit, front and rear underbodies and electrical architecture into modules that can be used with multiple platforms.

The alliance says it will deploy CMF across vehicles and production facilities on five continents by 2020. The program, which will initially cover 11 Renault and three Nissan compact and large car models, will begin this autumn with replacements for Nissan's Rogue and Qashqai small crossovers and X-Trail SUV.

CMF will spread to Renault's next-generation Espace minivan, Scenic compact crossover and Laguna midsize car in 2014.

The first phase will cover models representing annual output of 1.6 million vehicles. The alliance predicts the jump in standardization made possible by the new system will eventually reduce its component purchase costs by 20%-30%.