The design and development of vehicles requires a large team of specialists from a wide variety of disciplines working over a period of years to achieve the goal of a high-performance, competitive product. Engineers are involved in all phases of this highly interdisciplinary process - from the initial concept through manufacture and even into marketing. As a result, engineers from all disciplines can find a role in the automotive industry process.

Styling and Packaging Phase

The first stage of the automotive development process is two-fold: styling (exterior as well as interior design) and packaging.

Styling begins with sketches. Those that are selected for further development are then rendered in more detail - first digitally and finally as clay models. Exterior and interior designers work closely together, consulting with aerodynamics and ergonomic engineers as the design progresses.

Packaging is the process by which all the component parts are fit together within the close dimensions of the vehicle. Today's design concepts place a premium on the use of space, and components must fit together within these design constraints but in such a way that the strength and safety of the system is never compromised. Once the overall design is set, there is little room for change.

With the detailed drawings and models resulting from the styling and packaging phases of development in hand, the development or feasibility engineer begins the challenging work of finding the right balance between desired product design and real-world achievability. Thanks to the wide variety of computer simulation and 3-D modeling technologies available, testing that once would have been difficult or even impossible this early in the process is now common practice.

Issues such as environmental efficiency, compact design, safety, and style all have to be accommodated in the design segment. This means that, to a large extent, the success of an automotive company is often in its design and development process. With so much riding on this phase, it's not surprising to find that in addition to the designers, cross-disciplinary teams include scientists, graphic artists, and, of course, engineers.