Automakers are entering their decluttering era

Automakers are taking a hard look at cutting costs. Many specialized vehicles and custom offerings are on the way out. Stellantis/© 2024 Stellantis Automakers are cutting overlapping models and reducing complexity amid fresh competition. Volkswagen and Toyota executives, for example, say too many variants are driving up costs. Shared platforms could make cars cheaper to build — and potentially cheaper to buy, execs hope. Chinese automakers are turning up the heat — and legacy car companies…