Nissan adopts ‘Family Strategy’ to accelerate vehicle development

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has introduced a new development process called the ‘Family Strategy’ to address rapid changes in the automotive industry, such as electrification, software advancements, and intense competition from Chinese manufacturers. Under the leadership of CEO Ivan Espinosa, the company is shifting from a model-by-model development approach to a system where multiple vehicles are developed as a single ‘family’ using standardized architectures and common components.

By determining shared requirements—such as platforms, powertrains, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)—at the initial planning stage, Nissan aims to reduce the number of component types by approximately 70% and shorten development cycles by about 40%. This strategy involves a ‘Lead Model’ that sets the technical foundation, followed by subsequent models that utilize the same architecture to ensure consistency and cost-efficiency.

The first models utilizing this Family Strategy are expected to debut during fiscal year 2028.