Plastic and Technology

ProcessorBy now you must know that we are fans of Jay Leno's Garage, its a cool place. 

A few weeks ago, Jay made an interesting comment "built by human hands not robots" in the context that older vehicles built by human hands are restorable, where newer vehicles built by robots are perhaps not as easy to restore. 

Have you noticed that as the plastic content of vehicles increases the technology content increases almost in direct proportion. 

Do you remember when cars had real steel bumpers usually chromed, now the bumper is an H channel hidden behind a plastic cover which in most cases is the entire front or rear of the car. Do you remember when "bumper guards" were an accessory? You must remember how most folks parked in a tight space!

Today if a rear bumper cover is "ripped off" in most cases its seems as if half of the car left with the bumper.

The technology interface is cool though! Or it better be.

We are trading steel for plastic for increased "technology content" in a car.

You have to admit that robots are much better than humans at spot welding a body structure/shell the fit of body panels is very good on most vehicles....perhaps the robots all have the same "training".

The floor coverings on some vehicles, carpet does not apply to describe whatever it is, its a great way to sell floor mats as an accessory...the floor mat is now the carpet.

There is a large market segment that expects....no demands technology in a vehicle, be it for the operation of the vehicle, and more important the "interface with the vehicle"....some manufacturers are better than others at providing a compelling technology interface. 

Have you noticed the thickness of the metal in pop cans? Do you get the same feeling about body panels on most vehicles....the one's that are still metal. 

Do keep in mind that in a modern vehicle metal is morphed into plastic, and hopefully the cost savings generate a compelling technology interface for the "user".