Sharing is Caring for the GLA

2600 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by carbonfiber, Sep 22, 2013

butterfield

Discussion Starter · Sep 19, 2013

the MFA architecture under GLA/CLA/A classes and Q30/QX30 could potentially find its way under Nissan and Renault vehicles very shortly.

From Autonews:

In his view (Ghosen), a platform conceived for premium brands such as Mercedes and Infiniti also could be cost effective for volume brands such a Renault and Nissan. "The cost effectiveness doesn't depend so much on the platform, but on the specifications of the cars" you built on a common platform, Ghosn said.

Currently Mercedes uses its MFA architecture to underpin the A class, B class, CLA models and and the upcoming GLA. Nissan will use the platform for the Infiniti Q30, the brand's new entry-level model....

....Automakers are looking for ways to increase economies of scale to reduce their vehicle development costs. One way is to use co-developed common platforms to underpin cars of different sizes and price classes while differentiating in areas that customers can see and feel. The strategy also often shortens the models' time to market.

Yes its all about cost cutting, but i know for a fact i cant buy a Nissan on an S-class platform, but i can soon buy a Renault with a jointly developed Daimer-Nissan architecture.

I'm sure the MFA platform is quite well done, but one does have to sit and wonder where the exclusivity went? Has Mercedes commodified exclusivity to the point of paradox? This feels more narcissist than new age, but what do i know, I'm only a troll.

check the article here

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alcatraz

· #2 · Sep 19, 2013

I am really not that upset at the companies sharing platforms for their vehicles. This is more cost effective, and I don't think that is takes away anything from the consumers who are buying the vehicles. Sure there are good platforms and bad platforms, but if companies are working together to develop them I bet there is less of a chance of creating a bad platform. And this also goes to show which companies are really the best. Since they are all working from a similar underpinning, you know they all had a somewhat common start.

It seems like a fair and smart way to do business to me.

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butterfield

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 19, 2013

alcatraz said:
I am really not that upset at the companies sharing platforms for their vehicles. This is more cost effective, and I don't think that is takes away anything from the consumers who are buying the vehicles. Sure there are good platforms and bad platforms, but if companies are working together to develop them I bet there is less of a chance of creating a bad platform. And this also goes to show which companies are really the best. Since they are all working from a similar underpinning, you know they all had a somewhat common start.

It seems like a fair and smart way to do business to me.

then we should eff branding as well. Mercedes-Nissan-Infiniti-Renault should form an alliance and sell single branded vehicles all together. How flimsy is a brand if underneath the GLA the same as a $10k cheaper Nissan. People buy Mercedes for its engineering, not for its fairness to other companies.

Do you think Ferrari would share a platform with Hyundai? HA, do you think Ferrari would jointly develop a platform with Hyundai...

You know its funny, people used to knock Ford and GM for doing this in the 80s/90s, now that Mercedes is doing it its fair and smart business...

how much more myopia can the industry take?

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AMGz

· #4 · Sep 19, 2013

alcatraz said:
I am really not that upset at the companies sharing platforms for their vehicles. This is more cost effective, and I don't think that is takes away anything from the consumers who are buying the vehicles. Sure there are good platforms and bad platforms, but if companies are working together to develop them I bet there is less of a chance of creating a bad platform. And this also goes to show which companies are really the best. Since they are all working from a similar underpinning, you know they all had a somewhat common start.

It seems like a fair and smart way to do business to me.

I don't have a problem with platform sharing either, my problem is when they share platforms and do minimal changes, or just not enough. A good example is the new Honda Civic and Acura ILX. They look really different but if you dig deep, the ILX is just a fancy civic.

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carbonfiber

· #5 · Sep 19, 2013

This partnership has unleashed a variety of models for both the brands.

Hopefully its beneficial for both of them. I wonder if this means that certain parts will be interchangeable.

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AMGz

· #6 · Sep 19, 2013

carbonfiber said:
This partnership has unleashed a variety of models for both the brands.

Hopefully its beneficial for both of them. I wonder if this means that certain parts will be interchangeable.

I bet they will try to limit it just not to degrade Mercedes. But as the vehicle ages and aftermarket companies that make OEM-Spec parts start to release their stuff, they might consider making parts universal to the two vehicles.

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Frayzer

· #7 · Sep 19, 2013

It's probabaly only the barbones that they can interchange like some suspension components or something along the lines of under the skin.

I can see aftermarket companies making universal parts for the two though.

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carbonfiber

· #8 · Sep 22, 2013

AMGz said:
I bet they will try to limit it just not to degrade Mercedes. But as the vehicle ages and aftermarket companies that make OEM-Spec parts start to release their stuff, they might consider making parts universal to the two vehicles.

One thing is for sure.

GLA owners might try to buy the Nissan version of the parts to try to save money. As long as it fits.

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