How Ikeda Hoover sits comfortably with Nissan

The sugar‐mouse shaped Ford Ka is one of those “love it or hate it vehicles”. Whichever way it takes you, the Fiesta replacement is an example of growing modular manufacturing in the motor industry. This process means that makers deal with far fewer suppliers so that, for example, dashboard systems, body structure and seats are brought in ready to fit. In the case of the Ka, modularisation changes resulted in the number of parts handled by Ford workers falling from 1,200 to 3,000.