Automakers’ purchasing directors are concerned about the fortunes of their suppliers, but accept no blame for the financial strains many suppliers are facing.
The purchasing executives of Ford Europe (Birgit Behrendt), Renault (Odile Desforges), Fiat (Gianni Coda), Mercedes (Frank Deiss) and Toyota Europe (Mark Adams) talked with Automotive News Europe about their strategy of increased sourcing from low-cost countries and their aims to accelerate the introduction of new technologies in future models.
Amongst other strategies, automakers are reducing purchase costs by involving suppliers earlier in the working relationship, advising suppliers on how to boost productivity, and using more cost-effective designs including modular assemblies.
