Mazda and Yazaki Corporation announced that they will introduce, starting with the CX-5, a new production method to nearshore and automate the production of automotive wire harnesses. By producing components near domestic plants and reviewing production processes, they aim to stabilize supply and improve cost competitiveness.
On 15 October, Mazda and Yazaki Corporation announced a co-creation initiative aimed at nearshoring and automating wire harnesses, which carry power and data for in-vehicle equipment. They plan to incorporate the new production method into the CX-5 to strengthen the resilience of domestic production, with the goal of establishing a system for producing components near the finished-vehicle plant.
The initiative focuses on reducing the number of wire harness variants by approximately 80% compared with the previous generation by reviewing product design and production processes simultaneously. This is explained as the result not only of introducing automation, but also of strengthening collaboration from the design stage.
Yazaki Corporation is one of the world's leading wire harness manufacturers and says it will contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of domestic production by reviewing processes from the early stages of development in Japan. The co-creation initiative with Mazda is also regarded as important for the domestic economy.
The initiative seeks to stabilize domestic production and logistics while reducing environmental impact, and the view has been expressed that similar areas of co-creation may expand in the future.