You may have heard the term "automotive supplier" thrown around during all the bankruptcy chaos of the last year, but few actually know what role these companies play in the manufacture of modern automobiles.
Take this cutaway of the Lexus GS450h for instance. Many people would assume that Lexus, or its parent company Toyota, make most of the parts that go into constructing the hybrid SUV. Not quite.
Although Toyota may build core elements like the actual sheetmetal, it's the suppliers that build most of the parts that go into the finished product. This display in the Aisin booth at the Tokyo Auto Show reveals how many parts Aisin supplies for the GS450h. And this is just one of hundreds of suppliers used for this particular vehicle. Yes, building cars is hard.
charlesncharge says:
09:53 AM, 10/26/09
Ed, Evidently your Japanese isn't too good...clearly this isn't an RX450h - notice engine placement - it's longitudinal, not transverse. Also, front suspension isn't the more simple front strut arrangement of an RX450h. Lastly, look at the front brakes - somehow I doubt the RX450h features multi-piston calipers.
This is either the new Lexus LS600h, or GS sedan hybrid.
Happy Monday to you, sir!
fst1 says:
10:18 AM, 10/26/09
Good catch CnC. It's a GS450h, not RX450h.