Why car giants are swapping bespoke designs for a shared Lego-like building system
In short: Modern car manufacturing is shifting away from unique, single-model platforms toward a flexible, modular architecture. By standardizing core components across diverse brands, manufacturers like Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi are slashing production costs. This system allows them to mix and match parts to build everything from city cars to electric SUVs.
The Common Module Family (CMF) is not a traditional vehicle platform but a strategic manufacturing framework. Developed through the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance, it organizes vehicle construction into five interchangeable groups: the engine bay, cockpit, front and rear underbodies, and the electrical system. By utilizing these standardized modules, the alliance can build a wide variety of vehicles while sharing components across different classes and brands. This approach aims to compete with similar modular concepts like the Volkswagen Group's MQB, significantly reducing the complexity and expense of bringing new models to market.
The system is highly versatile, with specific variants tailored to different vehicle sizes and powertrains. The CMF-A platform targets smaller city cars, while the CMF-B series covers subcompacts, split into high-specification and budget-focused versions. For larger vehicles, the CMF-C/D platform serves mid-sized and large models, including popular SUVs like the Nissan X-Trail and Qashqai. The alliance has also integrated electric vehicle technology, with the CMF-EV platform—later rebranded as AmpR Medium and then RGEV Medium—designed specifically for battery-powered models, replacing older architectures like the one used for the Nissan Leaf.
The reach of this modular system is extensive, extending well beyond the core alliance partners. Brands including Dacia, Datsun, Dongfeng, Mercedes-Benz, and Venucia have all incorporated CMF technology into their lineups, with Alpine and Lada expected to join by 2025. The system's economic impact is substantial, with an estimated annual production of 1.6 million units across approximately 14 models worldwide. By standardizing these building blocks, the companies can achieve greater efficiency, allowing them to scale production and adapt quickly to market demands, whether for internal combustion engines or the growing sector of battery electric vehicles.
Innovation continues within the framework, particularly regarding cost and efficiency. For instance, the CMF-B EV platform, also known as AmpR Small or RGEV Small, shares about half of its components with the standard CMF-B platform. Engineers are targeting a reduction in battery costs to below US$80/kW-hr by 2030, utilizing both high-performance and affordable battery chemistries. This constant evolution ensures that the modular system remains a central pillar of the alliance's strategy to navigate the transition toward electrification.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Renault–Nissan Common Module Family
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