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Where is the REAL passion in the automotive industry, where is the heart and soul, and where is money more important than passion ?

Throughout the world, every road has become a showcase for billions of four wheeled transport devices that we either love or hate, but have become so important in modern life.

Some of these machines are objects of beauty, with gleaming metal, polished surfaces and interiors of leather and chrome, immediatly pampering to the image of the proud executive on his or her way to the office.

Others are more ordinary, "bog standard" four wheeled machines to get peaple from A to B, machines that seem to run for years and years, machines that are shouted at when they let us down, given TLC with buckets of soapy water on warm Sunday mornings, machines that can be our best friends when the traffic is clear, but out worst enemeies when we crawl in 1st gear to get home for tea during the Friday evening rush hour. Yes, we all love our cars, and we can't live without them, but what about those who make these beloved machines ?

The majority of cars are mass produced in factories. Huge machines weld steel body cages together while press formers make the rigid body panels that go such a long way to making the overall shape of the final product. Production line manufacturing is all about speed, time, profit, making sure targets are met, making sure volumes of cars are made by set deadlines. In today's competative market, time and money is everything.

Modern trends is the automotive industry is for companys to work for each other. A few years ago, Rover and Honda developed cars together. The 400 series and Civic used the same running gear and body pressings. Why make one range of cars from a set of steal presses when two ranges can be made. Surly a cost cutting exercise.

Consider also how many car companys are owned or have been bought over. the VW group own Skoda and Seat. General Motors own Vauxhall, Lotus, Proton, Chevrolet. Even the Mini, a Design classic, had its brand bought by BMW. Is this real motoring passion, or agressive business strategy ?

Even in today's profit driven market, it cannot be said that there is no passion in the motoring industry. This passion may not be at the production line, or in the executives office, but, is more likely to appear at the design stage. Vehicle designers, men and women who express ideas on paper, express ideas with passion and flaire and artistic integrity, men and women whoes ideas and creations are unique and beautiful and no matter if its a simple family saloon, or the latest sports supercar, the ability to express ideas on paper, draw, sketch, design, that's were the real passion in motering begins.

As soon as these creations are mass produced, however, they are no longer unique, and the designers then turn their passions to the next model.

Back to the drawing board.

Learn more about this author, Simon Cochrane.
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