Once upon a time, many of the fuel gauges, speedometers and other mechanical instruments used in automobiles and other vehicles were made ion the North Side of Chicago by Stewart-Warner Corp.
With all the hype surrounding self-driving cars these days, steering wheels seem a bit archaic. Some experts claim the humble device will soon find itself alongside bench seats, carburetors, chrome bumpers, hubcaps and other relics of the past.
Traditionally, automobile dashboards and center consoles have been the domain of buttons, dials and knobs. But, those mechanical devices are about to go the way of running boards, hood ornaments and rumble seats.
China’s auto industry is booming, and one company faced with the challenge of keeping up is Yanfeng Visteon Nanjing Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd. Founded in 2010, Yanfeng Visteon develops and manufactures a wide range of interior trim components, including dashboards, cockpit systems and consoles.
Believe it or not, cup holders were unheard of in automobiles 25 years ago. But not anymore. Americans are spending more and more time inside their cars, and the market is responding accordingly. Today, interiors are ground zero for automakers and suppliers.
