The competition between brands in the global car market has never been more ferocious. With 14 car companies controlling 54 marques, what country wields the wizarding staff in the motoring arms race?
The design process of cars is an aspect that flies under the radar with most motoring consumers. The detail and diligence put into coaxing an idea, a vision for a new car of any motoring brand into life is beyond tangible measure. Glance at any stationary car: it sits still, quiet, motionless - so much so that the meticulous hard graft, often over years, doesn’t quite resonate. For many, it’s too complicated to comprehend in a practical sense, so it’s normalised and overlooked - cars blend into the background of modern life. This heavily camouflages a rigorous and thorough production process by a vast team, all committed to a project.
Daimler’s design process neatly and briefly illustrates the framework for building a new car. Starting out as a rendering envisaged from a designer’s imagination, these ideas are drawn onto a pad or computer programme. The sketches that show the most potential are selected for further development; they are detailed into a package with geometrical specifications that mark the overall silhouette of the car.
This design package is subjected to different interpretations in the form of models, one being a virtual configuration. Displayed on multimedia screens, designers can view and analyse their work from different perspectives, scrutinising any aspect for improvements. If liked, the designs progress to clay model, sculpted to a 1:4 scale first, which is then upscaled to a full-size replica. It’s in this guise that the design renderings can be assessed, checked and balanced to the brand brief. This hand-crafted approach is combined with optical measuring tools and milling machines to create the first prototype replica.
The process is replicated for the interior design - sketches are put into different clay models - the most promising concept is then pursued. When the design foundation is finalised, the more refined decisions on colour and trim levels grip the attention of designers. Trim lines are picked from hundreds of samples - both fabric and leather - with various colour choices taken into consideration. The control and display elements for the telematics interfaces are then put together; this is done in a style to integrate with the design blueprint of the brand.
In the last stage of the process, the design is described in 3D data, this is so the resources required to produce the new car can be sought, enabling intricate and detailed elements to be made to exact measurements. With a brand like Daimler, no expense is spared that would compromise their vision. Of course, the design process will differ and vary depending on car brand, with different factors taking precedence over others.
As a car enthusiast, I find it intriguing how different brands approach the new car design process, and the unique outcomes that transpire. I am curious to distinguish the trends in different countries from the car universe, and, when all things are considered, what country has the strongest car industry in the world. The set of criteria to define, discern and decide the outcome is the crux of the matter - it's subject to difference of interpretation - but I have coalesced around a checklist that should circumnavigate the majority of these molehills, and provide some clarity.
"The set of criteria to define, discern and decide the outcome, is the crux of the matter - it's subject to difference of interpretation"
The definition of the strongest car industry in the world - from my perspective - is one that has breadth and depth on the car spectrum to select from; from small city cars and hatchbacks to performance supercars and rugged off-roaders, including every other model in between. This must be matched by a consistent standard in engineering quality across each manufacture. The level of brand commitment to electric cars will be taken into consideration, and held to account. With facts, scrutiny, and objectivity, my opinion will formulate in dissecting the chosen car-making countries.
There are many different factors that influence the production process of a car: financial resource, brand identity, target market, social culture and, fundamentally at this point in time, the detrimental consequences of the internal combustion engine fuelling climate change. These parameters act as guidelines that define decisions of carmakers, which is part and parcel of the development cycle of a car. Alternatively, they could be portrayed as a set of values and standards that a design team collaborates around, envisaging ideas to share and cooperate on. Without going through the full carmaker’s directory, the pool of car making countries of significance can be narrowed down - from my perspective - to six.
At this point, it is worth mentioning that there are countries yielding motoring brands with good reputations, and make good products. Sweden for example make Volvo and Koenigsegg. Both are credible manufactures, producing viable cars in their segments. But when compared and contrasted to the criteria outlined in the established checklist, as an overall package, the pair of carmakers could not qualify Sweden for consideration. So they don’t make the cut.
It is also worth mentioning that many manufactures across the world maintain their business profile within internal, self-sustaining motoring consumer markets - China and North America for example - with limited appeal beyond their country of origin. In part because these continents are so vast, they yield big enough customer bases not to be dependent on other countries.
This is not a criterion to measure the strength of a car industry though: popularity across global markets is an accurate and reliable barometer to indicate the health and wellbeing of a carmaker, and a country's car industry. For the purposes of relevance to the British motoring consumer, these arbitrary carmakers will not be included. Only carmakers with an international portfolio to Britain, and Europe, qualify.
So, taking into account these two relevant points, who are the contenders? In no particular order, the car-making countries vying for my coveted seal of approval are: France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Japan and America which - under the criteria stipulated - are still able to throw its hat in the ring, despite its self-sustaining internal motoring consumer market.
Across a six-part series of upcoming articles, we’ll take a look behind the badges of some of the most prominent carmakers, and attempt to find out what country has the strongest car industry. First stop on our globetrotting road trip, will be the American carmakers. Belt up everyone, and stay tuned.
Photo: Centro Hotels
Comments