report that in addition to the battery and motor, the chassis platform includes braking, steering, and power electronics components. It is said to be adjustable in length, able to house the batteries in different locations, and allow for a “removable body.” They also say CATL began building a factory for the chassis project in February and that the company reportedly filed a patent in early October that is “very similar to the skateboard chassis.
And yet, there is now a whole industry of specialty manufacturers who build cars for other companies. Magna builds the Jaguar I-Pace under contract for Jaguar. Parts suppliers make seats, dashboards, tires, windshields, brakes, and a zillion other components for the auto industry. Does anyone really know who manufactures the motors in their electric car? As long as it goes forward and backward on demand, they’re happy.
In the golden age of the American automobile, enthusiasts would spend hours swapping stories about how their car had a Muncie T4 “Rock Crusher” transmission or the special COPO dual quad carburetor setup supplied by Holley. Today? Not so much. Cars are more and more fungible goods — that is to say, one car is very much like another. The biggest distinguishing feature is the manufacturer’s logo on the hood.