• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.37-71
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• 2019

How has the passenger car's architecture evolved? In the meantime, the discussions on the car architecture have been mixed, i.e., integral, modular, and the coexistence of two types. Therefore, in this study, we aim to develop two indices can measure the degree of modularization of passenger car and its all modules using global trade data. By applying the indices to the framework of architecture positioning that reflects the hierarchical structure of a product, we examined that the degree of modularization of the passenger car architecture has been enhanced. Meanwhile, the degree of modularization differs across the modules that make up the car. Specifically, we observed the higher degree of modularization in front-end, cockpit and seat modules. Whereas, we found that body module had a relatively low degree of modularization. In particular, we observed that the platform of passenger car has notably modularized due to carmakers' efforts to achieve model diversification and reduction of cost and period in new product development at the same time. Interestingly, we showed that three modules, i.e., engine, chassis (relatively less modularized), and transmission (relatively highly modularized), had a different level of modularization, even if they commonly make up the platform. We contribute to the suggestion for analytical approaches that examine the degree of modularization and its progress longitudinally. In addition, we propose the necessity of decomposition of a system into elements in a study of product architecture, considering the possibly distinctive progress of modularization across the elements.