Are Instrument Panels Becoming Global?

Instrument panels or dashboards are experiencing significant changes in design and performance requirements at original equipment manufacturers (OEM's) throughout the world. These changes are being driven by vehicle styling, passive restraint requirements and the development of new materials. A snapshot of current instrument panel designs, performance requirements and materials utilized will be reviewed. Projections of changes to this picture will be analyzed concentrating on the effects of: vehicle styling, passive restraint requirements, materials development and world car designs. The myriad of changes to the current instrument panel necessitates major changes to the supplier community. An analysis of the changing roles of suppliers involved with instrument panels will also be reviewed.