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December 31, 2006
NEW-CAR DESIGN-TO-MANUFACTURE LEAD TIMES GET SHORTER
A Bloomberg News Service article in the Detroit Free Press notes that car manufacturers, “including Chrysler, Toyota and GM, are rushing to introduce new vehicles as life cycles of vehicles shorten and consumers demand more space, features and fuel economy.” For instance, it reports that “DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group aims to cut the time it takes to develop cars and trucks by as much as 50% to react more quickly to changes in buyers' tastes.” A Chrysler official told the newspaper that the company wants to reduce development time to 12-14 months instead of 18-24 months.
“Toyota Motor Corp. said in September it also aims to slash to one year the time needed to get new models off the drawing board and into production,” the paper said. What impact the shorter lead times would have on product liability litigation against car companies for defects that have allegedly caused injuries remains unclear; a common defense claim in such cases is that long lead times make it difficult for manufacturers to provide up-to-date levels of safety in some vehicles.
Posted by MVHAP at December 31, 2006 11:20 AM